Grier A. Bradshaw

Obituary: Kannapolis, NC Grier A. Bradshaw, 93, died at his home on Thursday, August 16, 2018. Born January 27, 1925, Grier was the son of the late Augustus Bradshaw and Eva Stroupe Bradshaw. He was born in Gaston County and lived with his parents until July 1943. After High School, Grier entered the United States Navy. Boot camp was at Great Lakes Naval Training Station from July 19, 1943 until September 20, 1943. He then was assigned to the Navy Training School at Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa. This training was completed February 26, 1944. On April 14, 1944, Grier was assigned to the USS Spangenberg (D.E. 223). He served on this destroyer escort in the European theater until his honorable discharge on April 20, 1946. In September 1947, Grier enrolled at Wingate Junior College. At Wingate, he met Louise Snead. They were married August 20, 1948 by their pastor, David K. Shelton in the Wingate Baptist Church. In August 1949, Grier and Louise moved to Raleigh. He enrolled in Wake Forest College and graduated with a B.A. Degree in the spring of 1951. In September, he accepted an English teaching position in Ellerbe High School, Ellerbe, NC. He began attending summer school in 1953 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In September 1953, Grier was elected principal of Hoffman Union School, Hoffman, NC. Grier was awarded a Masters Degree in Education at UNC - Chapel Hill in the summer of 1955. In September 1956, Grier was elected as an elementary school principal in the High Point City School System. This position lasted for fourteen (14) years. He was awarded a Doctor of Education Degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 1970. In June 1970, he was elected Superintendent of the North Wilkesboro City Schools. In July 1971, Grier began his tenure as Superintendent of the Kannapolis City School System. He was honored to serve the students and citizens of Kannapolis until his retirement on January 1, 1990. He said that he would never forget all the people who helped him during his public school career. Grier A. Bradshaw was a lifelong Christian and a Baptist. He was baptized in 1937 at Flint-Groves Baptist Church by Pastor B.F. Austin. During his educational career, Grier and Louise were active members of Wingate Baptist Church, Ellerbe First Baptist Church, Hoffman First Baptist Church, High Point First Baptist Church, North Wilkesboro First Baptist Church, and Kannapolis First Baptist Church. In the churches, Grier served his Lord and Savior and his fellow Christians as a choir member, a Sunday School teacher, a deacon, and a member and/or chairman of various church committees. Grier A. Bradshaw was a loving and caring husband, father, and grandfather. Surviving are his daughter, Nancy Bradshaw Johnson, her fiancé Dave Moore, and two grandsons, Charles Grier Johnston and wife Libby Spencer Johnston of Chicago, IL and Christopher Cameron Johnson of High Point, NC. Two brothers, Ned H. Bradshaw and Ronald S. Bradshaw, predeceased Grier in death. Grier's loving wife and helpmate, Louise, died on June 24, 2008, having been married for 59 years, 10 months, and 4 days. He often expressed his grief, but thanked God, his creator, daily for the many years of blessings together. The family will be at 527 Cosgrove Avenue, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, home of daughter Nancy Bradshaw Johnson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Community Home Care and Hospice of Sanford, 1836 Doctors Drive, Sanford, NC 27330. A grave side service at Hollywood Cemetery in Gastonia, NC will be at a later date. Whitley's Funeral Home is assisting the family.
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