Stone Gardens: Georgia transplant, bank founder was a community treasure in Alma and lived to be 103 years old
- Dennis McCaslin
- 4 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Ernest Bradley, who lived to 103, was a cornerstone of the Alma community until his death on May 20, 1963.
On the day Bradley was born, the final ("Golden Spike") spike was driven in the intercontinental railroad that tied the United States together east and west. On the day he died in 1963, the US was celebrating astronaut Gordon Cooper's 33 orbits of the Earth ,
Born December 23, 1859, in Georgia, Bradley moved to Arkansas in 1880 with his parents, John and Mary, and his younger brother Griffin.
They settled northeast of Alma in an area later called Georgia Ridge, where many Georgia families made their homes near the Old Hill schoolhouse.
At 21, Ernest was ready to build a life in this new place.
Bradley co-founded the Commercial Bank of Alma, a key institution in the town’s growth. He stayed on the bank’s board of directors until he died.
In 1959, when he turned 100, the bank’s vice president, John Burrough, honored him for outliving his life insurance policy, handing him the payout in a special ceremony.
Ernest and his brother Griffin, who lived to nearly 99, were active in their community. In 1958, the Crawford County Historical Society gave them the Distinguished Citizen Award.
The brothers never missed voting in a general or special election for 76 years, always showing up at the polls in person.
In 1892, Ernest married Ida Elizabeth Jones, who passed away in 1953. They had four daughters: Della Maloney Bradley Rogers, Addis Ward Bradley, Jewel Margaret Bradley Audrain, and Ethel Edna Bradley Miesch.
When he died, Ernest left behind three daughters, a grandson, and several nieces and nephews.
Bradley stayed active and healthy for most of his life.
After a long illness, he passed away in a local hospital.
His funeral was held at Alma First Baptist Church, led by Pastor O. Lynn Langston, and he was buried in Alma City Cemetery next to his wife and near his brother, who died in July 1962.
