Erin Amanda Bradford

Erin Amanda Bradford, 49, died unexpectedly in her sleep at her North Carolina home on Dec. 31, 2025.

She was a Belgrade native, born on Oct. 18, 1976, to Mary and John Bradford, and a graduate of the Belgrade High School Class of 1995.

Erin briefly attended both Montana State University and the University of Montana, finally finding an academic home at North Carolina State University-Raleigh, where she got her undergraduate degree in History in 2005.

To that she added graduate degrees in Public History and Library Science. And, finally, her passion for genealogy found a home at the State Library. (She was known for her multiple plastic tubs full of genealogy research.)

Years earlier, though, Erin's life took an unexpected, life-changing turn that would mark the rest of her life: During her teen years, she would need multiple brain surgeries. After a few years and 28 benign brain tumors, Erin would eventually be profoundly deaf and legally blind.

Born an extrovert, that might have been a problem. Years earlier, her Belgrade First Grade teacher pegged her as possibly the smartest kid she'd ever taught. (After she was blind, she taught herself to knit; and made jewelry for her own Etsy shop.) She "loved music," and had wanted to be a music producer or an artist. Eventually, being deaf and blind was just another problem to solve, and another skill set to master.

Erin's life permanently segued from Montana to North Carolina when she discovered that North Carolina was light years ahead of Montana in both its attitude towards and its services for the deaf/blind community. She spent her career in library science, both at North Carolina State and the State Library of North Carolina. Her 'happy place' was at the genealogy department at the State Library.

Her own family tree searches revealed her to be a direct maternal descendant of 8th Century European Emperor Charlemagne. And her state genealogy research would lead her to start writing a book, "Free Blacks of North Carolina After Reconstruction."

She was a longtime member of the North Carolina DeafBlind Associates, currently serving as 2nd Vice President on the Board of Directors.

In her family's words, Erin was, "Loving, determined, smart, resourceful, and friendly."

The NCDBA Facebook page said, "Her kindness knew no bounds ... friend, helper ... She made NCDBA her life mission and work. She was sweet-spirited and did not meet a stranger."

She had planned to return home to Montana when she retired.

In Montana she is survived by her mom and dad Mary and John; her brother Josh; and her nephews Cameron and Cooper. Her North Carolina family included her beloved Aunt Mary and Uncle Fred Simmons, Winston-Salem, N.C.; and many, many out-of-state cousins, aunts, and uncles.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: NCDBA: c/o John Sherwood; 6011 Trailshead Dr. Greensboro, NC 27405. He can be reached at [email protected].

A North Carolina Memorial Service is set for Jan. 24, 2026, at the Winston-Salem Friends Meeting (in the Activity Building), 6550 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC.

Another Memorial Service will be held this summer in Belgrade.