Mrs. Delores Bradley

Delores Simmons was born to the proud parents of Claud Simmons and Rosa Mae Johnson on October 14, 1936, in Mayfield Kentucky. Raised by her beloved Grandmother and Grandfather, “Mama” Nema Johnson and “Daddy” Ben Johnson, she and her two sisters, Patricia and Sandra moved to Detroit, Michigan, for greener pastures where her younger sister, Harriet and her brother Junior were born. From an early age, Delores was passionate about education and dedicated to providing for herself, her family, and her community. She was educated in Detroit Public Schools and graduated from Northwestern High School in 1954, and obtained her college degree from Macomb Community College, while serving as a wife, mother, and working a job full time. Delores was also a breast cancer survivor, and her story was featured in the Magazine Face the Community. Delores was also an avid traveler. Her travels included trips to: Mexico, Brazil, Africa, and her favorite places to travel was Nassau Bahamas. Delores loved to share cultural and fun experiences with her grandchildren often taking them to museums, concerts, plays and two of her favorite restaurants: Buddy’s pizza and Mexican village. She and her first husband Clinton Blackmon had three sons - Derek, Glen, and Keith who they raised with a good measure of love and strength that carried them into leading successful careers and families of their own. She was deeply devoted to civic and community engagement. You could always find her at political events, working the polls, marching with Dr. King, or making calls to elected officials to hold them accountable for their campaign promises. She served her community powerfully, whether getting a grant to run a summer program, serving as a Sunday School teacher, or dedicating over 20 years to her professional career at the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. She was a long term member of Unity Temple Church in Detroit, MI. She remarried Sam Bradley and they traveled extensively until he made his transition in 2008. Delores was beloved as a mother, sister, auntie, grandmother and “MaDear” by all of her family. She leaves to carry on her legacy three sons - Derek (Alicia), Glen (Rose), and Keith (Antoinette), nine grandchildren - Dereca, Ebony, Derek, Brentt and Dia; Lameka, Branden, Lauren, Olivia, Myia, Leela, and Aja, a host of great and great-great grandchildren as well as siblings, nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones who all treasure the memory of her love and the legacy of her dedication to her people and her community.

Mrs. Delores Bradley

October 14, 1936 - March 17, 2024