On Sunday, April 17, 2016, Raquel Dionne Mayfield-Bradford, 47, received a call from HIM who never makes a mistake. He said, "I see your struggles. You have kept the faith. Come unto me and I will give you rest."

Raquel was born in St. Albans, New York on July 11, 1968, the daughter of David Sr. and Hermeione Mayfield. She was predeceased by her maternal grandparents Howard and Ida Roscoe and paternal grandparents Melton and Lennie Mayfield. She was a 1986 graduate of Jackson Memorial High School in Jackson Township, New Jersey.  In 1991, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications from Norfolk State University.

Raquel accepted the Lord at an early age and was baptized at Macedonia Baptist Church in Lakewood, New Jersey. While at Macedonia, she was crowned the 1986 Cotillion Queen. She continued to be an integral part of the Cotillion in the role of mentor and mistress of ceremony.

While in college, she was an active member of Greater Mt Zion Baptist Church in Chesapeake, VA.  Upon returning to New Jersey, she later joined Macedonia Baptist Church in Neptune, New Jersey. Raquel was a member of Triumphant Life Church, Asbury Park, New Jersey where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, Youth Mentor, and a member of the prayer team.  Raquel loved and knew the Lord!

Raquel held various jobs in multimedia and marketing. Some included Asbury Park Press, New York Post, Black Enterprise, Diversity Inc., Working Mom magazines to name a few. She also worked for US Radio in Norfolk, VA (102.9 FM). She was currently employed with Townsquare Media Group (101.5 FM).

Raquel married Leonard Bradford on December 31, 2005. From this union was born one son, Demetrius David Bradford. Raquel was a devoted and loving Mother. Demetrius meant the world to her, which was evident by her hard work to provide a stable and loving home for him. Family meant everything to Raquel.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, Leonard; son, Demetrius of New Jersey; parents, David Sr. of South Carolina and Hermeione of Virginia; a loving brother, David Jr. (Maria) of Florida; two nephews, Sabastian and Noah; a loving aunt and cousin, Francine and Shannon Harris of Virginia; uncles, Melvin (Rosie) and Douglas (Joyce) Mayfield of South Carolina; two wonderful Godparents, Karl and Beverly Crudup; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Gone is the face we loved so dear, silent is the voice we loved to hear Too far away for sight or speech, but not too far for thoughts to reach, Sweet remembrance of her who once was here, And who, though absent, is just as dear.