Mary Kathryn Bradshaw, a lifelong member of the Celina, Texas community, passed away on April 5, 2024, at the age of 84. She was born on June 26, 1939, to the Reverend Grady Buren and Mary Jewell (Sockwell) Bradshaw in McKinney. Mary was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.
Mary dedicated her life to education, leaving an indelible mark as an elementary school teacher teaching first and third grade. She taught for five years in Wylie, Texas and another 25 years in Celina, Texas where she then retired. She earned her associate degree from Decatur Baptist College and both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Texas. Mary was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Celina, Texas and loved attending Sunday School there.
Mary loved being able to travel in the summertime between school years to locations all around the world. She traveled to China, Cyprus, Egypt, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, and Thailand. While in Tokyo, Japan she was able to attend the Baptist Congress and the Expo-70 (World Fair) in Osaka, Japan. The trip to Israel was during Christmas time and she was able to visit Bethlehem, Galilee, and Jerusalem. While in Bethlehem she sang with the Christmas Choir Assembly.
Mary loved the mission field and at one time wanted to become a foreign missionary. However, she settled on taking mission trips in the U.S. and loved the work she was able to perform.
She is survived by her niece, Robyn Rich Martin of Fort Worth, Texas; nephew, Randy Rich of Baltimore, Maryland; and nephew, Wade Bradshaw of Rochelle, Virginia.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Buren J., and Charles W. Bradshaw; sisters, Ruth Bradshaw, and Anne Rich; nephews, Chuck Bradshaw, Elliott Bradshaw, and Everett Bradshaw.
A special thank you to her close friend of many years, Verna Lee Morris. Verna Lee was always there for Mary when her family could not be. The family would also like to thank the staff at Settler’s Ridge Care Center, where Mary lived for the past eight years, for their care and kindness shown towards her.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the First Baptist Church in Celina, Texas in her memory.
A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas. The family will receive guests for a visitation from 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., Saturday afternoon at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas.