Madelyn Bradley

by Joanna McFarland


My heart is broken and very sad that Carrie is gone. I remember when I found out I was so devastated. I would arrive home at the door in tears and my husband would just hug me because he knew I had been crying the minute I left work until I arrived home. I just couldn’t believe the news and this was happening to her. My heart is heavy and tears are in my eyes as I write, but I need to just say what my relationship was with Carrie. I worked for Carrie for 7 years as her Executive Assistant. I remember the day I met her in Liberty Corner, NJ. John Havens had invited me to meet his team as I had supported Carrie when she was in Dallas Texas. I used to wonder what she looked like as we spoke often over the phone and thru email. She was just so young and pretty – eager and excited to be working as a Director.  Our relationship was very comfortable. We worked well together. She always said that I kept her organized. Meetings were hectic and Carrie would be racing to meetings. One time we were getting off the elevator and she dropped her Blackberry and it just seemed to glide over the space between the elevator and the floor. We both just stopped and looked and then burst out laughing as it could have gone another way. She just had a way of approaching you with care and concern. She was always willing to derive a solution to any problem. “Come on in” “Let’s have lunch” “Stop by my office” were words I would hear her say to so many who needed advice or just to talk. I would watch her many days with her hands flying over her keyboard with lots of thoughts and shooting out many emails. She took the time to write thank you cards. I still have the ones she wrote to me for gifts we had exchanged at Christmas or for her Birthday. Even when she was sick she took the time to say thank you. She was so happy when I married 4 years ago. One thing was apparent she loved – Loved and enjoyed hearing and seeing people in love. She loved Dale so much and shared how they met as well. When I told her my husband and I had visited Cape May annually for our anniversary  she immediately wanted to go with Dale! She loved the beach and loved to visit Cape May.

When I moved on to a new job it was so hard for both of us and we really didn’t want to say it. I cried and she did too. There were many conversations we had that were so meaningful. She was very thoughtful and kind to write me about my Dad when he was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and treatments she was experimenting with for Cancer.  “Take care of yourself, too. It is hard on caregivers, too. Your dad needs you healthy, so take time for u too Call if u want to discuss anything" were some of her caring words.

Her thoughtfulness was genuine. She always had the best intentions for anyone in her life. We will miss her deeply, but we know she is free from sickness and disease. I am happy to have known Carrie and all the conversations we shared in my 7 years of knowing her. I will miss that blonde hair bobbing away quickly down the hall and running on the treadmill. Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Young, for raising a beautiful woman who lived a wonderful life;  and knew the meaning of love and showed many of us thru her giving, thoughtfulness and time. God Bless you all who have prayed for her and stood in the gap when she was weak. She would have done the same for you.

God Bless you all and your faithfulness.