Bradford Clark Freeman, 97, of Caledonia, MS, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2022, at Baptist Memorial Hospital – Golden Triangle.

There will be a visitation Thursday, July 7, 2022 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS.  The graveside service will be on July 8, 2022, at 10:00 AM in Egger Cemetery, Caledonia, MS with Lonnie Cook officiating and Lowndes Funeral Home directing.

Bradford C. Freeman (Mr. B. to his friends) was born September 4, 1924, in Artesia, MS to Erwyn and Ollie Freeman.  He had four brothers and three sisters.

He graduated from Artesia High School in 1942.  He was a freshman at MS State when WWII started.  He then volunteered for the paratroopers.  On February 5, 1944, he went into Foreign Service with 506 ^th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101 ^st Airborne Division.  He was a mortarman for Easy Company.  He jumped in the D-Day Normandy invasion, fought in Operation Market-Garden, and was part of the defense of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, where he was wounded.  He was able to rejoin his unit and participated in the occupations of Berchtesgaden and Austria.

After the war, he returned to Caledonia and married Willie Louise Gurley on June 29, 1947, and worked as a mail carrier for 32 years.

He is survived by his sister, Claydeen Allen of Amory, MS, and 2 daughters, Beverly Bowles and Becky (Don) Clardy.  He has 4 grandchildren: Brad (Carmen) Gore, Chris (Heather) Clardy, Kelly (David) Perkins, and Michael (Whitney) Clardy.  He has 10 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Freeman also leaves special friends: Jo Ann Gunn, Cindy Boyd, Tony Smith, Benny Coleman, Cheryl Reichling, Erik Dorr, Rose and Danny Coggins.

We want to acknowledge and thank the 3 ^rd -floor nursing staff at Baptist Memorial Hospital.  They showed such kindness and respect for our daddy and ministered to us.

Our dad was always astounded that a country boy from Mississippi was able to see so many places and meet so many interesting people.

Pallbearers will be Brad Gore, Chris Clardy, David Perkins, Michael Clardy, Tony Smith and Benny Coleman

In lieu of flowers please send a memorial to Caledonia Church on Main, P.O. Box 1, Caledonia, MS 39740.