Mary Evelyn Bradford, age 81 of Dickson, passed away on January 28, 2025, at Horizon Medical Center of Dickson. She was born in Dickson, TN, on January 6, 1944, to the late Robert R. Watkins and the late Nora M. Ladd Watkins. She was previously employed in bookkeeping and insurance departments at Dickson General Hospital
Mary had a personality that was larger than life and filled up any room she was in. In her youth and middle age, she had boundless energy, often watching after elderly relatives and neighbors. She was smart and opinionated and funny, always quick with a joke, and could scarcely be photographed without making a goofy face at the camera.
Mary considered her role as a mother to be the most important of her life. Her daughter and son were everything to her, and they were equally devoted to her. She loved her home of nearly 55 years; she was the queen of her castle, and she made it a cozy and comfortable retreat. She could cook like nobody’s business, a genuine Southern cook, and no one ever left her table hungry. Even in her later years, when health problems slowed her down, she still loved to spend time in her kitchen, where she continued to cook a remarkable amount for her age.
She loved using her tablet to go on the internet, catching up with old friends on Facebook, and sitting with her daughter Darlene and grocery shopping online. Mary loved music, and had a true rock and roll heart, though she could often be heard singing random songs from show tunes to novelty hits as she did housework. The father of her children, Carl, was a singer and musician, and her son Chad is a musician as well. She loved to watch old western movies, especially ones starring Randolph Scott. She said he reminded her in many ways of her late father, who died on the day after her 22 nd birthday. Mary also loved her savior Jesus Christ, and all who knew her well know that she has taken her place in Heaven.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother: Robert Paul Watkins.
Survivors include her daughter: Darlene Bradford; and her son: Chad Bradford.