Bradford leaves legacy as Franklin County Schools’ first nurse

When Franklin County Schools hired its first school nurse in 1982, the choice of Wanda Bradford set the standard for the system’s future.

The Franklin County native dedicated herself to doing her best, and bringing out the best in others.

Bradford died November 8th after an extended battle with dementia. She was 72.

In 1989, Bradford was selected as Alabama School Nurse of the Year by the Alabama Association of School Nurses, based in large part on the innovative health program she implemented for all Franklin County Schools.

That program was designed to include health screenings, home visits and health education programs for Franklin County students.

Bradford remained with Franklin County Schools until 1992 when the University of North Alabama, from which she graduated in 1980, hired Bradford as an associate professor who taught Community Health Nursing.

Bradford also helped coordinate UNA’s online Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science (BSN) four-year academic degree program.

A BSN is a more comprehensive degree that includes leadership and management skills that can lead to higher earning potential and more career options compared to an RN.

Bradford earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from UNA, then began pursuit of her Master’s Degree at the University of Alabama Huntsville. After she earned her Doctorate in Nursing from Rush University in Chicago, Bradford would be promoted to Department Chair of UNA’s Online Nursing Department.

During her 33-year association with UNA, Bradford created a legacy that will never be forgotten. UNA’s online BSN program opened the doors to future nurses who, for a variety of reasons, could only have pursued such a degree online.

As important as her career was to Bradford, family came first. She is survived by her husband of almost 45 years, Howard Bradford. The couple had two daughters, Donna Hines (Shawn Sr.) and Katina Bradford Petree, a former Tharptown Elementary School first grade teacher who was part of the school’s first kindergarten class, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and a very special aunt, Doris Sockwell Craig.

“Her family was just everything to her, especially the old house she and my dad remodeled that was built in the 1800s and was her grandparents’ home,” Katina said.

“She absolutely loved that place and all her family being there. She always had the Sockwell (her mother’s maiden name) family reunions there until they grew too big and it had to be moved. She also loved nursing and helping people. She would help anyone day or night any way and every way she could,” she added.

Her grandchildren include Brooke Vandiver, Shawn Hines, Jr. (Savannah), Brady Petree (Stacy), Carson Petree (Gracey), Macy Petree (Devin), Patrick Hines and Hollie Hines. Her great-grandchildren are Chancellor “Chance” Hines, Lakely Hine and Elizabeth “Ellie” Petree.

Bradford was preceded in death by her parents, Billy and Mary Quinn, siblings Steve and Randy Quinn, grandson Chance Vandiver and stepson Stephen Bradford.

Bradford delighted in planning family get-togethers, whether it be for holidays, birthdays or any other occasion. Some of her fondest days came just sitting on the front porch with Howard as they watched what was going on in their Bethsaidia community.

Bradford also loved family vacations, particularly at her  special oasis of St. George Island in Florida.

“My parents just happened upon that place one time coming back from taking my niece to Disney World,” Katina recalls. “They stayed there a day or two and fell in love with it. She planned on buying a house down there after she retired, but that never happened. But it was truly her little piece of Heaven on earth.”

Bradford also loved gardening, Alabama Crimson Tide football and her beloved dog Lucy.

Her grandson Brady Petree recalled his grandmother’s dedication to her garden.

“She really took pride in that garden, as she possessed our family’s ’green-thumb,’ and she was often able to nurse plants back to health when seemingly no one else could,” Petree said.