Carolyn Langford Bradford was born March 2, 1938, to Charles Virgil Langford Sr. and Leila Wade Langford, in Bogart, Georgia. She grew up on her parents’ farm with her brother Virgil Jr and sister Glenda (both deceased), and was baptized at Mars Hill Baptist Church in Bogart. She graduated from Truett-McConnell Junior College in 1958, and in 1961 from the University of Georgia, with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano. After additional graduate studies there in piano, she entered a career of music ministry and music education.

She married James Bradford in 1965 and had two children, Spencer and Anastasia, to whom she was devoted as they moved around the country for her husband’s education and work in healthcare. She was a long-time piano teacher in her home studio, in every community where her family lived, and also taught music in elementary school settings. She loved sacred music, and served in music ministry in several churches during her life. She sang in church choirs and choral groups throughout her life, such as the Florida Baptist Singing Women, and as a soloist. She played handbells as a soloist, and as a member and director of handbell ensembles. Since locating in DeLand, FL, with her family almost 50 years ago, she was a member of First Baptist Church and then New Covenant Baptist Church. Throughout her career, she was active in the Sigma Alpha Iota music professional sorority, the Music Teachers National Association, and P.E.O. Sisterhood (Chapter DT). She died at home on September 23, 2026.

Carolyn is preceded in death by her husband, James; her parents Virgil Sr. and Leila; her brother Virgil Jr. and sister-in-law Hilda, and nephew Jeffery; her sister Glenda and brother-in-law Clyde. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Spencer and Renee Bradford, of Freeman, SD; her daughter Anastasia Bradford, of Amstelveen, Netherlands; her grandson, John Bradford, of Durham, NC; her nieces Gina (Kent) Lang, Teresa (Dennis) Sheridan, and Amanda (Michael) Threlkeld; and her brother-in-law Keith (Barbara) Bradford.

Visitation and reception will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, 6:00-8:00 pm at Lohman Funeral Home, 935 E. New York Ave., DeLand. Funeral service will be held Sunday, Oct. 4, 1:30 pm at New Covenant Baptist Church, 1350 S. Blue Lake Avenue, DeLand. The burial and graveside committal will be at 3:00 pm at Oakdale Cemetery. The family requests memorial gifts be made to PEO Chapter DT, 2175 Whitemarsh Dr., DeLand, FL 32724, promoting educational opportunities for women.