Deacon Willie Earl Bradley was born March 7, 1952, in Bakersfield, California, to the late Mary Lessie Carter Bradley and WD Bradley, Sr.
He confessed Christ at an early age in Chicago, Illinois. Willie Earl attended school at Edwards Junior High School, where he received his formal education. He attended high school at Hinds Agricultural High School, where he graduated in 1971 and attended college at Utica Junior College, which is now Hinds Community College.

He joined in holy matrimony to Earlean (Lewis) Bradley; on January 29, 1975, in Joliet, Illinois but resided in Chicago for one year before moving to Edwards. He was a member of Greater Clark Street in Jackson, Mississippi, under the leadership of Reverend S. L. Bolden. He became a Trustee
at Edwards Revival Center under the leadership of Pastor Otis Harris, Sr., but he decided to come back to his home church of Ratliff Chapel Missionary Baptist Church where he was appointed a deacon by Pastor Douglas Lacey. He was very active in the church and community.
His kindness and generosity were felt through his encouraging words, willingness to help anyone, and the way he fed everyone. Willie Earl was definitely a man of his word. If he said he would do it, you could consider it done. Willie Earl was a devoted husband, a loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, cousin, and friend. He will be greatly missed. Willie Earl accomplished many accomplishments in his career. He retired from BASF after over 25 years of service. He was a dedicated member of Flaming Sword #101, Jackson Consistory #117, and the Hinds AHS/Hinds Community College Alumni Association. He was inducted into the Hinds Community College Sports Hall of Fame.

Willie Earl was called home on Thursday, December 22, 2022, at Baptist Medical Center. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Bradley, and sister Pattie Bradley Johnson. He leaves to cherish his memories: a loving and devoted wife, Earlean Bradley; two daughters, Rhonda Jones-Gillespie (Michael) and Jarkarta Bradley Garrett (Michael); one son, Gabriel Reshard Bradley (Shawn); father, WD Bradley Sr. (May); eight grandchildren, Kevin "KJ" Kirkendall Jr., Jacquez "JRoc" McKay, Generrow Bradley, JaBrien "Jay" Garrett, Gabrielle Bradley, Kamryn
Gillespie, Caleb Gillespie, and Jadyn "Chunky" Garrett; two great grandchildren, Aiden Bradley and Milan McKay; three sisters, Gloria Gaddis, Linda Murray (Willie), and Jackie Bailey; three brothers, WD Bradley, Jr., Thurmond Bradley, and James Bradley; and a host of aunties, nieces, nephews, and cousins.