Dr. Grady L. Bluford

Dr. Grady L. Bluford, 81 of Sioux City, passed away Tuesday May 8, 2012 at a Sioux City Hospital. Services will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Sioux City, with the Rev. Robert Dillman officiating. Graveside services will be 1:00 P.M. Saturday at Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation at Becker – Hunt Funeral Home will be from 4 to 8 P.M. Friday with sharing and remembering time at 7:15 P.M. Grady was born May 21, 1930 in Flint Michigan, the son of William and Atha (Jordon) Bluford. He graduated from South Sioux City High School in 1948. He attended Wayne State College then Morningside College graduating in 1958. He attended St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Medical Technical School from 1959 to 1960. He earned a degree in Counseling from the University Of South Dakota. He earned a master’s degree in ministry in 1989 and master’s degree in Christian Counseling in 1990. He received a doctorate in Bible Ministries in 1992. He married Harriet L. Trosper on November 14, 1959 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Sioux City, Iowa He was employed at the West Hotel in Sioux City from 1951 to 1952, Miller-Kidder Chevrolet from 1953-1961, Methodist Hospital from 1961 to 1967 and Goodwill Industries from 1967 where he was vice-president until his passing. He was a former member and president of the NAACP. He was a former board member of St. Luke’s Regional Medical Board and Western Iowa Tech. He was a former chairman of the board at First Christian Church, Tri-State Christian Church and Morningside Christian Church. He served as pastor of the First Christian Church in Akron, Iowa. He was a member of Southern Hills Baptist Church in Sioux City where he served as a deacon. He received various awards for his service to the community, most notably the Edgar J. Helms Award from Goodwill International. He was active and served a term as president for the Suburban Rotary Club. Survivors include a son Derick L. Bluford of Council Bluffs, Iowa, a daughter: Michelle A. Bluford of Omaha, Nebraska, a sister: Mildred Davis of Sioux City, sisters-in-law: Beatrice Jackson of Tullahoma, Tennessee, Verona “Cookie” Trosper of Sioux City, Iowa, brother-in-law, Everett Jackson, nephew Mickey Green, nieces: Dayna Nash, Dawn Ramsey, several other nieces and grandnieces and two grandchildren: Brandon and Alan Battles. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Harriet on March 11, 2007 in Sioux City, Iowa, a brother: Harold Bluford and three sisters: MaryAnn Thompson, Willie Mae Fant and Ethel Heller. Pallbearers will be Derick Bluford, Alan and Brandon Battles, Thomas Nash, Harlin Vermeer and John Hantla, Jr. “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality, the last is to say ‘Thank You’. In between the two, the leader MUST become a servant”