Dr. I.T. Bradley

Dr. Irece T. Bradley was born on January 20, 1932 to Irene Newson in Greenville, Mississippi. He went to be with his heavenly father on January 10, 2022 at the age of 89. He met the love of his life, Delores Denson in Akron, Ohio. They were married on February 15, 1951 and has been for over70 years. He was the father of five (5) children, a grandfather and a great-grandfather.

Dr. Bradley was educated in the Akron Public Schools and graduated from North High School. Dr. Bradley earned a Bachelor of Arts in History Education from Virginia Union University in 1961. He furthered his education by earning a Master of Divinity in 1975 and a Doctorate of Ministry in 1981, both from Pittsburg Theological Seminary in Pittsburg, PA.

Dr. Bradley served in the U.S. Army from 1950 – 1953 and is a Korean War veteran. He was honorably discharged after being wounded with the rank of Corporal and received a Purple Heart.

Dr. Bradley has served as Senior Pastor at the Macedonia Baptist Church in Heathsville, Virginia; Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Akron, Ohio; Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio; Christ Memorial Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio; St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio and Second Baptist Church in Akron, Ohio where he retired in December, 2002.

Dr. Bradley’s secular work experience includes teaching history and government at Virginia Randolph High School in Glen Allen, Virginia; instructing in 50 MM shell packing and production at the Ravenna Arsenal in Ravenna, Ohio; Associate Director of East Akron Community House in charge of programming in Akron, Ohio; Professor of Black Religion and Theology at the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio; visiting professor in History and Theology at the Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio and visiting professor in Black church History and Theology at the Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Bradley also served as Director of Black Studies and a member of the Board of Directors of the Mansfield Bible College and Seminary in Mansfield, Ohio.

Positions that Dr. Bradley has held includes: President of the Congress of Christian Education of the Ohio Baptist General Convention, Minister of Cooperative Relationships for the Ohio Baptist Convention and Academic Dean at the Eastern Union Bible College in Columbus, Ohio, State Director of Christian Education and was the First Assistant to Northern District Overseer Renea Collins for the State of Ohio Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship.

Dr. Bradley has two publications to his credit: “The Redeeming Love of God”, that was published by the Pittsburg Theological Seminary in 1972 and “The Black Church, An Agent of Economic Development in the Black Community”, that was published by the Ohio Baptist General Convention in 1974.

In 2002, The Bradley Bible College was established in Akron, Ohio. This year marks the 20th year that the College has been established.

On January 12, 2003, Dr. Bradley began serving as the pulpit overseer (Interim Pastor) of the New Beginnings Full Gospel Baptist Church after having had 40+ years of pastoral experience. Though New Beginning had been extremely blessed to have Dr. Bradley serving as pulpit overseer and though they respected traditional Baptist polity where an interim pastor is not to be a candidate for the pulpit, they also
knew that each Baptist church is its own governing body. Therefore, the New Beginning Family, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, extended the pastoral call to Dr. Bradley in early 2004 and he was officially installed as pastor on September 26, 2004. It was Dr. Bradley’s vision with New Beginning to share significantly in the area of Christian Education and to strengthen their fellowship within the community.

Dr. Bradley officially retired in 2009, residing in Columbus, Ohio. He united with Triedstone Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop Jerome H. Ross, Sr.

An awesome anointed teacher, instructor, preacher, and visionary; Dr. Bradley has been and will always be remembered as a mentor to so many.

Dr. Bradley was preceded in death by his mother, Irene Newson.

Dr. Bradley leaves to cherish his memory: Wife; Delores Denson Bradley: Three Sons; Adrien (Sandra) Bradley of Canton, OH, Guiseppe Bradley of Columbus and Anthony (Shirley) Bradley of San Diego, CA: Two Daughters; Chaserece Dunson and Delarece Bradley both of Columbus; Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren and a host of Nieces, Nephews and Friends.

Pastor Bradley will lie in state from 10:00am -11:00am; family will receive friends at 11:00am until time of Home Going Service at 12:00 noon Saturday, January 22, 2022 at Triedstone Baptist Church 858 E. 3rd Ave. Interment 10:00am Monday at Dayton National Cemetery. Ministry of Comfort entrusted to MARLAN J. GARY FUNERAL HOME, THE CHAPEL OF PEACE NORTH, 2500 Cleveland Ave. Services can be streamed at http://www.triedstonebaptistchurch.org/live-video-stream.