Dr. George L. Bradley, Jr.

June 21, 1942 – July 17, 2026

George L. Bradley, Jr. D.O. FAAFP, entered his eternal home on July 17, 2026. He was born in Philadelphia, PA and raised in Philadelphia and South Jersey. He received a bachelor's degree in Natural Science from Rutgers University with the help of New Jersey State Scholarship and his medical training from The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (1968) then completed a rotating internship in Lancaster, PA. He began a partnership with Family Practice in Lititz (Lancaster County) PA. In 1980, he moved south, settled in Cherryville, NC, and started a solo practice. His interests included hunting, fishing, photography, and cooking until he was physically unable to do so. He was a Lifetime NRA member, and Lifetime N.C. Sportsman. His passions were Family, Church, Medical Practice, and Community Service.

Dr. Bradley was preceded in death by his wife Diane, a beloved spouse of 58 years. George and Diane were fortunate to have traveled many cruises in this hemisphere during recent years. He is also preceded in death by his parents, George L. Bradley, Sr. and Norma Pazar Bradley; as well as his brother, Rick Bradley; and brother-in-law, Paul Gottschling.

Survivors include his four children: Maureen Bradley Powell (Paul) of Kannapolis, Erik Douglas Bradley (Matthew) of Rockwall, Texas, Megan Bradley Poole (Ryan) of Vale, N.C., and Andrew Laird Bradley (Susie) of Belmont, N.C. They were also blessed by three grandchildren, Lynzie Bradley Gehring (Cody) of Kings Mountain, NC; Bradley Scott Jamison of Maiden, NC; Abigail Grace Breland of Vale, NC; and two great grandchildren, Hazlee Rose Gehring, and Kinzlee Rose Gehring of Kings Mountain, NC.

Since arriving in Cherryville, the family members were active members of First Presbyterian Church. During that time, Dr. Bradley was an ordained elder and designated as Elder Emeritus in 2015. He also was chairman of the Ministry of Stewardship and Ministry of Missions. He was a member of the Presbyterian Men and edited the Pastor's Doctoral Thesis. During his time in Cherryville, he began the First Presbyterian Church Endowment Fund and was chairman for two decades, providing many capital improvements to the campus and aid to several mission programs. He also initiated the FPC Columbarium project.

His medical practice was varied, including work at The Lancaster (PA) County Prison: N.C. Prison camps at Shelby and Maiden; a drug research unit in Lancaster, PA where he was a principal investigator for over 100 protocols involving new drug development and drug surveillance. Dr. Bradley was also an Aviation Medical Examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration (Senior AME) and a County Medical Examiner for Gaston, Cleveland, and Lincoln Counties and denoted by the office of Chief Medical Examiner (Chapel Hill) for 32 years of service. He was the first D.O. designated and the first D.O. to serve as the Doctor of the Day for the N.C. Legislature.

He enjoyed being a mentor and supervising physician for over fifty 3rd and 4th year medical students from ten different medical schools and was designated Adjunct Associate Professor of Family Medicine by W.V.S.O.M. He also treasured his tenure as a delegate to the House of Delegates of the N.C. Medical Society (N.C.M.S.), likewise the first D.O. to serve as a delegate. He was a member of the Royal Society of Health (UK). During his time in the House (NCMS), he was author of over 200 resolutions (Many became AMA and NCMS policy and at least twelve became the basis for N.C. Laws. In October 2012, Dr. Bradley was awarded the rarely given Presidential Award for his efforts. He was a Life Member of the NCMS & AOA. He always considered the practice of medicine to be "a gift from God", the Master Physician.

From the start of his Cherryville practice, he was active in the community. He was an advocate for improved EMS service, he began a task force to assess need for water fluoridation, he began the area Radon Surveillance program (after noting geologic surveys in N.C. and the area's incidence of lung cancer). Also, as medical examiner he noted the high number of suicides in his jurisdiction and, with the approval of the Chief Medical Examiner, developed a program (along with the Cherryville Ministerial Association) which was delivered in most area churches during October that year to address the problems of depression and suicide. The number of suicides plummeted. He served on the Board of the Presbyterian Samaritan Counseling Center and was a member of The Spratt (S.C.) / McMillan (N.C.) Congressional Medical Taskforce.

Dr. Bradley was a long-term member of the Cherryville Chamber of Commerce and for a period was the Chairman of the Board of Directors. While Board Chairman, the textile crisis evolved and the "'Crafted with Pride in the USA" program matured. A delegation from Cherryville presented material to the City Council, County Commissioners, the Governor, the N.C. Legislature. and the U.S. House of Representatives, and the U.S. Senate. The delegation is designated in the Congressional Record for that visit. Dr. Bradley was elected County Commissioner for one term, served on the County Board of Health and Board of Directors of Gaston Memorial Hospital (now Caromont). He chaired the Task Force to Retain Obstetric Services, which resolved the issue of indigent obstetric care. Following a meeting of the American Hospital Association, Dr. Bradley and several colleagues introduced the concept of the Gaston County Health Care Commission, which has continued to serve tens of thousands of local citizens. He was also appointed to the Governor's Board for Management of Low-Level Radioactive Waste, serving for several years. He also served on several governmental committees (Local, State and National) during and after his tenure as county commissioner.

He is survived by his sister-in-law Linda Anne McLaughlin (Sea Isle City, NJ); brother-in-law Ronald Gottschling (Woodbury Heights, NJ). Dr. Bradley is also survived by his immediate family listed above; his brother Nicolas R. Bradley (Millville, NJ); several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Visitation: 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23, 2026, in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church of Cherryville.

Memorial Service: Immediately following the visitation, conducted by Rev. Dr. Billy T. Lowe and Rev. Dr. Ron Tippens.

Inurnment will be completed after the service at the Columbarium Church Memorial Garden.

His family would like to extend a special “thank you” to the nurses and staff of both Peak Resources of Grover, N.C. and Wendover Hospice, for their care and support during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Endowment Fund of First Presbyterian Church. 107 West Academy Street Cherryville, NC 28021.

Condolences may be made to www.carpenterporter.com