Marva Bradshaw

Marva Bradshaw, affectionately known by family and friends as "Marva Lou" and or "Sista", passed away at home on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 in the presence of her devoted daughter, Jacquelyn.
Marva was born in Boyle, Mississippi March 22, 1936 to the late Thomas James and Annie Perry.
Marva graduated from Cleveland Colored Consolidated High School in 1955. She also received an Associate's Degree in Home Economics from Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, MS.
She moved to Fort Wayne, IN where she met the love of her life, Jack Bradshaw, Jr. They married December 19, 1959. To this union, two children were born, Virgil Thomas and Jacquelyn Yvette.
Marva was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, friend and neighbor. She was loved by all. Marva always had an open door, listening ear, and would give anything she could. She was never short of giving advice.
She was a great hostess, Master Seamstress, Girl Scout leader and the all-around "Kool-Aid" mom. During summer months you were sure to find her at her lake side home hosting a bar-b-que with an ice cold Busch beer in hand and inviting all around to attend. She enjoyed talking on the phone and visits with her sisters. Her interest included DANCING, playing cards (a hard game of "Bid Whist"), gardening, sewing, cooking, baking, and teaching etiquette to her daughter, nieces and their friends. She found great love in family and was very proud of her family heritage. Marva was more than eager to share stories about the Perry family history, the farm and accomplishments of her parents, and other family members, during a time that was not so favorable for African Americans.
Her greatest joy was pampering, nurturing (aka "spoiling") her beloved grandson, Brandon Michael and
his sister Cassie, who she claimed as her own.

Just as the faithful daughter- in law Ruth that the bible speaks of, Marva and Jack raised their children, following his family legacy, in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, where she was actively involved in their spiritual upbringing. Later in life, she became a baptized Jehovah's Witness and remained a faithful servant until her death.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jack, her sisters, Tom Ethel Campbell, Phalby Culpepper, Roddis McDonald, Gloria Davis; brothers, Doubert and Joe Perry; special cousin, Jesse Johnson, and for all those who knew Marva, her beloved dog, Penny.
She leaves to cherish her memory her two children, Virgil (Julie) Bradshaw and Jacquelyn Bradshaw both of Cleveland, OH; grandson, Brandon (Christine) Bradshaw of Indianapolis, IN; granddaughter Cassie Christy of Columbus, OH; two great granddaughters, Nora Marie and Addison Grace; two sisters, Doris Wormbly and Anne English both of Fort Wayne; two brothers, Carl (Betty) Perry of Cleveland, MS, and Larry (Patricia) Perry of Fort Worth, TX; three brother-in-law's, Calvin Culpepper of Fort Wayne, IN, Raymond (Ethel) Bradshaw and Samuel (Zetta) Bradshaw of Savannah, GA; sister-in-law, Lillian Werner of North Carolina; special cousins Vianna "Dollie" (Jacquelyn's other mother)and her sister Alethia Kirby of Jacksonville, FL and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family and friends.

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