Heaven's Gate opened wide on Tuesday, July 2, 2013, and welcomed our dad into Eternity. Family and friends gathered by his bedside and sang hymns and prayed as Bobby Stokes Bradberry said "Goodbye" to his earthly body and was welcomed into eternity by the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Bobby Stokes Bradberry, age 79, of 204 Bradberry Lane, Clifton Forge, was born October 31, 1933 in Pipestem, West Virginia, to the late Frank and Lilly Bradberry.

He served in the United States Army during the Korean War and was a longtime member of Immanuel Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon for many years.

He was a retired well driller for Bradberry Well Drilling and enjoyed woodworking and gardening.

In addition to his parents, was preceded in death by his first wife, Weeda Bradberry in 1986; four brothers; and a sister.

He is survived by his wife, Edith Murray Bradberry and two daughters, Teresa Nicely and husband, Charlie, and Kathy Brown and husband, Daniel, all of Clifton Forge; grandchildren, Bobby and Meredith Nicely, Ben and Joy Nicely, Brandon and Melissa Nicely, Misti and Jared McGuffey, and Issac Nicely and his special friend, Grace Parker; ten great grandchildren; three sisters; a special sister-in-law, Betty Bradberry; a number of nieces and nephews; and his special church family.

By the decision made by Bobby to accept Christ as his Savior and ask Christ into his heart, we know that one day we will see him again, because according to the Bible, he will be absent from the body, but present with the Lord.

A funeral service was held on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. in Immanuel Baptist Church, Clifton Forge with Pastor John Godfrey, Brandon Nicely and Pastor Bill Dillon officiating. Interment will follow in Alleghany Memorial Park, Low Moor.

Active pallbearers were Bobby Nicely, Ben Nicely, Brandon Nicely, Isaac Nicely, Jared McGuffey, Donnie Bradberry, Ronnie Bradberry, William Nicely, Joe Turner, and Doc Thompson. Honorary pallbearers were Phillip Bowman, Marion Nicely, George Jenkins, and Richard Deeds.

The family received friends on Thursday from 11:00 a.m. until time of service at Immanuel Baptist Church.

The Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge handled arrangements. The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to Mountain Regional Hospice Volunteers, P. O. Box 637, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.