Juanita Bass Bradley was born on Tuesday, December 5th 1939 and truly lived a life full of grace. She was quietly confident with resilient determination and blessed with uncomplicated kindness and generosity of spirit. She was a loving and beloved daughter, wife, mother, teacher, mentor and friend.
The first ten years of her life were spent in St. Louis, MO where her mother, Rosie Ida Bass raised her and her brother Earl. In 1949 the family moved to Detroit where the value of education formed a foundation for Juanita's life. She graduated from Wayne State University and then attended graduate school at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
In the early 1960's Juanita and Jim Bradley met in Detroit where they fell in love with each other and were married by the fall of 1962. To this union, two daughters were born, Vanessa and Angela. These two girls were always the lights of their parent's lives. When Jim was a senior financial analyst at General Motors, his ultimate ambition was to become a GM Dealer. He knew that meant giving up the corporate job. In a 1993 Ann Arbor News interview about the opening of the Saturn store, Jim told the story. "I went home and told my wife I had to quit my job" recalls Bradley with a smile. "And with two preschoolers!" Juanita interjected, for whom the shock was obliviously still fresh. "Fortunately she supported me" Jim said. It was a pattern that continued uninterrupted for the duration of their lives together. While many called him Jim, Juanita called him Howard. And when she did, he melted in the loving husband, caregiver, companion, and confidante.
Juanita's first career was as Hearing Impaired Teacher Consultant for the Washtenaw Intermediate School district. She worked with students throughout the county and used every opportunity to expand their horizons in ways that went far beyond that which was required or expected.
When she retired from the WISD, Juanita looked for new challenges and found them at Jim Bradley's, working directly with the customers. One of the reasons the Bradley's were awarded the Saturn Dealership was the high level of customer satisfaction reported by their present customers. Jim Bradley credited Juanita, who was director of customer satisfaction, for Jim Bradley Pontiac Cadillac GMC Truck. Juanita then became the first African-American women in the country to manage a Saturn Dealership when the Bradley Automotive Group opened Saturn of Ann Arbor in 1993. Her teaching and managerial skills contributed significantly to Saturn of Ann Arbor's success. Providing quality vehicles to customers was as important to the Bradley's as providing a vehicle for quality education. Jim and Juanita Bradley have endowed academic scholarships at Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College.
Juanita was deeply committed to the work and purpose of the organizations she was a part of. She was a charter member of The Ann Arbor Chapter of the Links Inc., the Ann Arbor Chapter of the Jack and Jill of America Inc. where she served as the first recording secretary, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Delta Psi Omega Chapter. From leading Brownie Troops to supporting the work of her organizations and recognizing academic scholarship, Juanita was actively engaged in community service. Any other free time was dedicated to improving and enjoying what was already a masterful game of tennis. Juanita spent the most recent years in California with her daughters and mother until she passed away on February 16, 2013.
Her loving memories will be cherished by her mother Rosie Ida Bass, daughter Vanessa brothers-in-law: Donald (Lovie), Samuel and David; and sisters-in-law: Virginia Eddings (Paul), Marion Holley and Doris Jordan, nieces nephews and friends. Juanita was preceded in death by her husband Jim (2003) and daughter Angela (2011). We can honor her life with acts of kindness and support to others. And when you do, think of Juanita, and her smile, and know that the teacher is pleased
The first ten years of her life were spent in St. Louis, MO where her mother, Rosie Ida Bass raised her and her brother Earl. In 1949 the family moved to Detroit where the value of education formed a foundation for Juanita's life. She graduated from Wayne State University and then attended graduate school at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
In the early 1960's Juanita and Jim Bradley met in Detroit where they fell in love with each other and were married by the fall of 1962. To this union, two daughters were born, Vanessa and Angela. These two girls were always the lights of their parent's lives. When Jim was a senior financial analyst at General Motors, his ultimate ambition was to become a GM Dealer. He knew that meant giving up the corporate job. In a 1993 Ann Arbor News interview about the opening of the Saturn store, Jim told the story. "I went home and told my wife I had to quit my job" recalls Bradley with a smile. "And with two preschoolers!" Juanita interjected, for whom the shock was obliviously still fresh. "Fortunately she supported me" Jim said. It was a pattern that continued uninterrupted for the duration of their lives together. While many called him Jim, Juanita called him Howard. And when she did, he melted in the loving husband, caregiver, companion, and confidante.
Juanita's first career was as Hearing Impaired Teacher Consultant for the Washtenaw Intermediate School district. She worked with students throughout the county and used every opportunity to expand their horizons in ways that went far beyond that which was required or expected.
When she retired from the WISD, Juanita looked for new challenges and found them at Jim Bradley's, working directly with the customers. One of the reasons the Bradley's were awarded the Saturn Dealership was the high level of customer satisfaction reported by their present customers. Jim Bradley credited Juanita, who was director of customer satisfaction, for Jim Bradley Pontiac Cadillac GMC Truck. Juanita then became the first African-American women in the country to manage a Saturn Dealership when the Bradley Automotive Group opened Saturn of Ann Arbor in 1993. Her teaching and managerial skills contributed significantly to Saturn of Ann Arbor's success. Providing quality vehicles to customers was as important to the Bradley's as providing a vehicle for quality education. Jim and Juanita Bradley have endowed academic scholarships at Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College.
Juanita was deeply committed to the work and purpose of the organizations she was a part of. She was a charter member of The Ann Arbor Chapter of the Links Inc., the Ann Arbor Chapter of the Jack and Jill of America Inc. where she served as the first recording secretary, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Delta Psi Omega Chapter. From leading Brownie Troops to supporting the work of her organizations and recognizing academic scholarship, Juanita was actively engaged in community service. Any other free time was dedicated to improving and enjoying what was already a masterful game of tennis. Juanita spent the most recent years in California with her daughters and mother until she passed away on February 16, 2013.
Her loving memories will be cherished by her mother Rosie Ida Bass, daughter Vanessa brothers-in-law: Donald (Lovie), Samuel and David; and sisters-in-law: Virginia Eddings (Paul), Marion Holley and Doris Jordan, nieces nephews and friends. Juanita was preceded in death by her husband Jim (2003) and daughter Angela (2011). We can honor her life with acts of kindness and support to others. And when you do, think of Juanita, and her smile, and know that the teacher is pleased
Juanita Bass Bradley was born on Tuesday, December 5th 1939 and truly lived a life full of grace. She was quietly confident with resilient determination and blessed with uncomplicated kindness and generosity of spirit. She was a loving and beloved daughter, wife, mother, teacher, mentor and friend.
The first ten years of her life were spent in St. Louis, MO where her mother, Rosie Ida Bass raised her and her brother Earl. In 1949 the family moved to Detroit where the value of education formed a foundation for Juanita's life. She graduated from Wayne State University and then attended graduate school at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
In the early 1960's Juanita and Jim Bradley met in Detroit where they fell in love with each other and were married by the fall of 1962. To this union, two daughters were born, Vanessa and Angela. These two girls were always the lights of their parent's lives. When Jim was a senior financial analyst at General Motors, his ultimate ambition was to become a GM Dealer. He knew that meant giving up the corporate job. In a 1993 Ann Arbor News interview about the opening of the Saturn store, Jim told the story. "I went home and told my wife I had to quit my job" recalls Bradley with a smile. "And with two preschoolers!" Juanita interjected, for whom the shock was obliviously still fresh. "Fortunately she supported me" Jim said. It was a pattern that continued uninterrupted for the duration of their lives together. While many called him Jim, Juanita called him Howard. And when she did, he melted in the loving husband, caregiver, companion, and confidante.
Juanita's first career was as Hearing Impaired Teacher Consultant for the Washtenaw Intermediate School district. She worked with students throughout the county and used every opportunity to expand their horizons in ways that went far beyond that which was required or expected.
When she retired from the WISD, Juanita looked for new challenges and found them at Jim Bradley's, working directly with the customers. One of the reasons the Bradley's were awarded the Saturn Dealership was the high level of customer satisfaction reported by their present customers. Jim Bradley credited Juanita, who was director of customer satisfaction, for Jim Bradley Pontiac Cadillac GMC Truck. Juanita then became the first African-American women in the country to manage a Saturn Dealership when the Bradley Automotive Group opened Saturn of Ann Arbor in 1993. Her teaching and managerial skills contributed significantly to Saturn of Ann Arbor's success. Providing quality vehicles to customers was as important to the Bradley's as providing a vehicle for quality education. Jim and Juanita Bradley have endowed academic scholarships at Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College.
Juanita was deeply committed to the work and purpose of the organizations she was a part of. She was a charter member of The Ann Arbor Chapter of the Links Inc., the Ann Arbor Chapter of the Jack and Jill of America Inc. where she served as the first recording secretary, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Delta Psi Omega Chapter. From leading Brownie Troops to supporting the work of her organizations and recognizing academic scholarship, Juanita was actively engaged in community service. Any other free time was dedicated to improving and enjoying what was already a masterful game of tennis. Juanita spent the most recent years in California with her daughters and mother until she passed away on February 16, 2013.
Her loving memories will be cherished by her mother Rosie Ida Bass, daughter Vanessa brothers-in-law: Donald (Lovie), Samuel and David; and sisters-in-law: Virginia Eddings (Paul), Marion Holley and Doris Jordan, nieces nephews and friends. Juanita was preceded in death by her husband Jim (2003) and daughter Angela (2011). We can honor her life with acts of kindness and support to others. And when you do, think of Juanita, and her smile, and know that the teacher is pleased
The first ten years of her life were spent in St. Louis, MO where her mother, Rosie Ida Bass raised her and her brother Earl. In 1949 the family moved to Detroit where the value of education formed a foundation for Juanita's life. She graduated from Wayne State University and then attended graduate school at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
In the early 1960's Juanita and Jim Bradley met in Detroit where they fell in love with each other and were married by the fall of 1962. To this union, two daughters were born, Vanessa and Angela. These two girls were always the lights of their parent's lives. When Jim was a senior financial analyst at General Motors, his ultimate ambition was to become a GM Dealer. He knew that meant giving up the corporate job. In a 1993 Ann Arbor News interview about the opening of the Saturn store, Jim told the story. "I went home and told my wife I had to quit my job" recalls Bradley with a smile. "And with two preschoolers!" Juanita interjected, for whom the shock was obliviously still fresh. "Fortunately she supported me" Jim said. It was a pattern that continued uninterrupted for the duration of their lives together. While many called him Jim, Juanita called him Howard. And when she did, he melted in the loving husband, caregiver, companion, and confidante.
Juanita's first career was as Hearing Impaired Teacher Consultant for the Washtenaw Intermediate School district. She worked with students throughout the county and used every opportunity to expand their horizons in ways that went far beyond that which was required or expected.
When she retired from the WISD, Juanita looked for new challenges and found them at Jim Bradley's, working directly with the customers. One of the reasons the Bradley's were awarded the Saturn Dealership was the high level of customer satisfaction reported by their present customers. Jim Bradley credited Juanita, who was director of customer satisfaction, for Jim Bradley Pontiac Cadillac GMC Truck. Juanita then became the first African-American women in the country to manage a Saturn Dealership when the Bradley Automotive Group opened Saturn of Ann Arbor in 1993. Her teaching and managerial skills contributed significantly to Saturn of Ann Arbor's success. Providing quality vehicles to customers was as important to the Bradley's as providing a vehicle for quality education. Jim and Juanita Bradley have endowed academic scholarships at Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College.
Juanita was deeply committed to the work and purpose of the organizations she was a part of. She was a charter member of The Ann Arbor Chapter of the Links Inc., the Ann Arbor Chapter of the Jack and Jill of America Inc. where she served as the first recording secretary, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Delta Psi Omega Chapter. From leading Brownie Troops to supporting the work of her organizations and recognizing academic scholarship, Juanita was actively engaged in community service. Any other free time was dedicated to improving and enjoying what was already a masterful game of tennis. Juanita spent the most recent years in California with her daughters and mother until she passed away on February 16, 2013.
Her loving memories will be cherished by her mother Rosie Ida Bass, daughter Vanessa brothers-in-law: Donald (Lovie), Samuel and David; and sisters-in-law: Virginia Eddings (Paul), Marion Holley and Doris Jordan, nieces nephews and friends. Juanita was preceded in death by her husband Jim (2003) and daughter Angela (2011). We can honor her life with acts of kindness and support to others. And when you do, think of Juanita, and her smile, and know that the teacher is pleased
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