Ima Jo

Bradley

Ima Jo Bradley, age 93, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville. A devoted wife, loving mother, cherished grandmother and great-grandmother, and faithful servant of the Lord, Ima Jo leaves behind a beautiful legacy of faith, family, and love.  Ima Jo was born June 20, 1933, to Frank and Viola McKnight on their family farm near Formosa, Arkansas. She graduated from Clinton High School in 1950, where she excelled in basketball. During her senior year, she made the All-District team and averaged 30 points a game in the tournament. In 1951, she married her beloved best friend, Joe L. Bradley, and they spent the next 75 years together raising their children and delighting in their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Before retiring in 1994, she worked for over 25 years with Russellville Public Schools, serving much of that time as the secretary at Gardner Junior High School. A woman of deep Christian faith, she loved studying the Bible and attending Christian Bible conferences with Joe. She loved to cook for her family, and while there were many family favorites, “Grammie’s chocolate and biscuits” definitely topped the list. She enjoyed working in the garden and produced wonderful fruits and vegetables that she and Joe shared with family and friends. Some of her grandchildren’s favorite memories are of “cutting biscuits” with Grammie and picking beans with her in the garden. She became a lifelong Arkansas Razorback fan when Joe graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1956. They spent many hours together either attending or watching Razorback football, basketball, and baseball games. She also enjoyed St. Louis Cardinals baseball, fishing, jigsaw puzzles, and singing Gospel hymns. She is preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Mildred Maxwell, Marie Loftis, Eunice Evans, Nena Evans, Edsel McKnight, Kermit McKnight, Mada Knight, and Macel Quattlebaum; her cherished grandson, Travis Bradley, and her beloved daughter-in-law, Kim Bradley.

She is survived by her husband, Joe; her children, Joe Frank Bradley (Frances) of Little Rock; Stanley Bradley of Springdale; Ginny Jones (Jamey) of Houston, TX; Greg Bradley (Hope) of Branson, MO; and Tania Pruitt (Mike) of Farmington; her grandchildren, Mark Bradley (Jenny) of Springdale; Nathan Bradley (Nicole) of Rogers; Rachel Clark (Forrest) of Austin, TX; Beth Reynolds (Jason) of Nashville, TN; Rebecca Bradley (Aaron Harris)) of Fayetteville; John Elizandro (Anna) of Waconia, MN; Ruth Weyland (Preston) of Washington, DC; and Emily Timm (Jake) of Houston, TX; 18 great-grandchildren (with more on the way), and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ima Jo will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. The family is grateful for the love, prayers, and support they have received during this difficult time. They are finalizing plans to gather and celebrate her life and will share those details very soon.  Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m. Monday, November 23, 2026 at Covenant Presbyterian Church with Paul Sagan officiating.  Interment will follow at Fayetteville National Cemetery.