Claretha Bradley was born to Janie and Artie C. Johnson on December 24th, 1932. After high school, Claretha came to New York at the tail end of the Harlem Renaissance when many southerners came north to find new beginnings. In the early 1950's, Claretha packed her bags to venture from her hometown of Baconton, Georgia to Harlem, New York to help her older sister, Thelma, raise her niece, Gloria. She met and married Howard McDonald and in 1954, she had her first born Varleton. Claretha having her sights set for high career goals she went back to school to learn shorthand and typing gaining her employment as an Administrative Assistant. Being career driven, she worked in communications as a Customer Service Receptionist while going to school to earn her college degree. She divorced and later married James Bradley. In this union, Claretha Bradley welcomed the birth of Sanji Samantha. Shortly after earning her college degree, she began working at the New York City Department of Education. Her desire to progress was no secret to her children and anyone who knew her. In the Harlem neighborhood where she lived, she was respectfully known as Miss Claretha for her style, community activism, and her no-nonsense demeanor. For anyone who knew her knew if you crossed paths on the wrong side of Claretha you would earn a few expletives and chastising you would long forget. She loved people and more than anything loved being in the lives of children. Working in the NYCDOE, she supported special needs children until she retired. Claretha leaves to cherish fond memories: children, Varleton, Sanji, Georgianna, and Cherena; grandchildren, Imani, Dara, Nephra, Astu, Shaneya, Wé, Jasmine, and Noah; great grandchildren, Zoey, Kenzo, Kenji, Camiya, and Dylan; brother, Samuel Johnson; daughters-in-law, Jacqueline and Valerie; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends. Claretha lived her life in the fullest possible way, leaving behind many relatives and friends who loved her for what she added to their lives. She will be missed. Lovingly submitted by The Family