Bradley celebrates her 100th birthday

Published 8:00 am Saturday, March 16, 2019

About 135 friends and family members gathered to celebrate Marie Bailey Bradley’s 100th birthday on Saturday, February 23. The party, given by Bradley’s daughter, Gayle Bradley Mato, and son-in-law, Thomas Mato, was held at The Plaza Restaurant and Oyster Bar in Thomasville, Georgia. The restaurant is Georgia’s oldest — only three years older than the centenarian.

She entered the room to the crowd yelling “Surprise!” Her excitement showed in her big smile as she raised her hands in the air to wave to everyone. After being seated, she stood and welcomed guests, thanking them and expressing her joy at their presence. A banner behind her read, “Welcome to my 100th Birthday Party, Marie Bailey Bradley, Centenarian, Vintage 1919.” Drucilla Bennett of Thomasville prepared and arranged the florals and created long-stemmed white rose bouquets that adorned the table where Bradley was seated. Following a buffet lunch, her favorite chair from home arrived so that she could sit and pose for pictures and visit with her many guests.

Beautifully arranged feather centerpieces, pearl necklaces, and beaded candles helped carry out the Roaring ‘20s theme. The tables also featured specially made placemats and faux $100 bills with her face on them. Two dessert tables offered many sweet selections from truffles and caramels by Savannah Candy Kitchen, Savannah; decorative chocolate covered Oreos and Pretzels by Marie Grahams, Bristol, Virginia, Royal Iced Roaring 20s Cookies by Pamela Tucker, Thomasville, a three-tiered carrot cake by Tally Town Cake Art, Tallahassee; a two-tiered pound cake and mini-cupcakes by Karon Salter, Cairo and cheesecake truffles from Cheesecake Truffles, Burleson, Texas. Throughout the room, signs with fun facts from each decade from the 1910s to the present adorned the walls. Guests also enjoyed a photo booth where they donned feather boas, pearls, fedoras, and other fun items for commemorative pictures by Donathan Photography, Becky and Dean Donathan, from Thomasville.

Born on February 25, 1919, in Roanoke, Alabama, she lived most of her life in Roanoke. She married Ovid G. “Preach” Bradley in 1956. The daughter of Henry Grady and Ethel Meacham Bailey, she is the oldest of 11 children. She worked at the Palm Beach Company for over 40 years and was an excellent seamstress, quilter and cook. She currently lives with her daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren, Stephen and Emma, in Thomasville, where she is still active and attends church at Moultrie Road Church of Christ in Thomasville.

When asked her secret to her longevity, she said she had absolutely nothing to do with it and gave credit to God for her long and healthy life. Her daughter, Gayle, ended by saying, “We are so blessed to have her in our lives. She is an inspiration to us all.” Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful celebration and wished her many more birthdays.

All of her friends and family members made this a memorable occasion for her. Her family in attendance were Fay and Lisa Bailey of Birmingham, Alabama; Melissa and Jamie Taylor, Meacham and Kevin Bailey, Clyde and Ricky Brown and Patsy Pinkard of Roanoke, Alabama; Mack, Janice and Randall Bradley, Polly Martin and Carolyn Foster of Lanett, Alabama; John E. “Plug” and Jim Bradley, Jennifer and Sophie Lancaster, Randy and Sharon Mickle of LaGrange; Cindy, Shayne and Meagan Edge of Lake City, Florida.

Friends in attendance were Kevin and Paula Alford, David and Karen Anderson, Heath Bassett, Drucilla Bennett, Sara and Samalia Black, Amy and Emme Clark, Jeannette Collins, Becky and Dean Donathan, Peggy Chandler, Teresa Fielding, Agnes Carter, Charlotte Handcock, Jackie Johnson, Ruth McCranie, Jason, Allison, Lily, Mark and Abigail Nesmith, Mark and Melany Nesmith, Peter and Nancy Thomas, Shannon Thaggard, Pamela and Alan Tucker, of Thomasville; Matt Lingerfelt, Valdosta; Ashley Cantrel, Woodstock; Janet and John Musser, College Park; Lynn and Emily Johnson, Cairo; Ken and Shirley Richmond, Josh, Steve and Dedria Walker of Crawfordville, Florida; Donna and Tim Reece of Ellijay, GA; Janice Harrell of Lake City, Florida; Barbara and Craig Londberg of Metcalf; Marlene and Bennie Williams of Panama City, Florida; Laura Hawkins of Barwick; Elaine Cashwell of Quitman; Janice Mayfield, Luvenia and Ben Shuman of Niceville, Florida; Miriam Evans, Carlton Bassett, Scott, Monica and Rory Crafts, Louise Grimm, John and Beth Haynes, Denver and Diane Ingram, Shirley Miller, Bryan, Micah and Merit Nerland, David and Jancie Nerland, Tyler Phillips; Rich and Carleen Pisanti, Horace and Kay Royals, David, Deana and Sharon Scherbarth, Tim, Jennie and Isabel Taylor, Gene and Sandy Taylor all from Tallahassee, Florida; Lynton and Lucretia Stephens and Sherie Royals and Jan Wilemon of Tampa, Florida.