Dr. Josephine Ophelia Boyd Bradley born in Greensboro North Carolina on March 7, 1940, with her mom Cora Lee Dungee Boyd and dad Robert ELL Boyd evenly distributed in her soul departed this earthly life September 15, 2015 at her home in Atlanta, Georgia. At an early age Josephine displayed an intelligent, gentle and nurturing personality. In 1958 she assumed her place in American history when she became the first African American person, to integrate Greensboro (now Grimsley) High School. She graduated in the top 10th of her class with honors among 1,950 high school students modestly as an American pioneer in civil rights and trailblazer of equal education under the law. She went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from North Carolina Central University, graduating Summa Cum Laude, in Durham North Carolina; a Masters in Social Work from Michigan State University, in East Lansing Michigan; a Masters in Woman's Studies and her Ph. D., in African American Studies from Emory University in Atlanta Georgia where she wrote about her high school experience in her Dissertation: Wearing My Name: School Desegregation in Greensboro, North Carolina, 1954 -1958. She married for 33 years Dr. Hayworth Lee Bradley, of High Point N.C., and lived a distinguished professional life as social worker in East Lansing Michigan, a writer, board member, department head and educator at five Universities: Southern University Baton Rouge LA, Tusculum College Greeneville TN, Agnes Scott College, Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta GA. She became involved in her profession because of her passion for learning, interest in working with young people to help them advance through education. Additionally, she enjoyed serving in various capacities with several organizations: Association of Social and Behavioral Scientists; National Council for Black Studies, Family Resource Center, DeKalb County, Hope Commitment Services, where she is a founding Board Member, and The Lupus Research Team at Emory University, where she's participated in research studies since 2010. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Josephine loved traveling, reading and writing. Her memory and legacy will be cherished by three children Paulette Yvonne, Mark Fitzgerald, and Teresa Michelle; two grandchildren Harper Alexis and McKinley Francis, two sisters Hannah Cecelia Barksdale and Fannie Boyd Thompson of Greensboro North Carolina, four brothers Robert Perry Boyd, Harvey Alexander Boyd, Edward Waddell Boyd of Greensboro North Carolina and Michael Leroy Boyd of Anaheim, California; along with a host of aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, and a large community of colleagues and students. Josephine was a stalwart for education and family. She knew African history, people, and politics. She was brilliant, kind and calm—even in the most trying of times. She was the kind of friend that you went to first and often. We love her dearly. A service honoring the life of Dr. Josephine Boyd Bradley will take place at Metropolitan United Methodist Church, 1701 East Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27401 on Saturday, September 26, 2015.The visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. , and the service will follow at 2:00 p.m. The Interment will take place at Bass Chapel Church Cemetery, 5075 Bass Chapel Rd,Greensboro, North Carolina 27455.