PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Bessemer City
December 2025
Bessemer City Announces the Bradford H. Kelly Service Award in Honor of Late Employee Brad Kelly
2025 Award Presented to Brandon Willis of the Bessemer City Parks & Recreation Department
Bessemer City is proud to announce the naming of its new Employee of the Year recognition as the Bradford H. Kelly Service Award, honoring the life, service, and extraordinary spirit of long-time City employee Brad Kelly, who passed away tragically earlier this year.
Brad served Bessemer City with dedication and a heart for people. His legacy—defined by kindness, humility, hard work, and a deep commitment to community—embodied the very principles behind the City’s Heartfelt Living brand. The new award name reflects the type of public servant Brad was: someone who uplifted others, inspired teamwork, and approached every task with a genuine desire to serve.
More about Brad’s life and contributions can be found on the City’s remembrance page: Remembering Brad Kelly.
This year, the Employee Recognition Committee proudly selected Brandon Willis of the Parks and Recreation Department as the 2025 Bradford H. Kelly Service Award recipient.
Brandon exemplifies the qualities that the award seeks to honor, reflecting the criteria established for outstanding service:
- Heartfelt Commitment to Service: Brandon consistently goes above and beyond to support residents, colleagues, and community programs with compassion and enthusiasm.
- Strong Work Ethic & Dependability: Known for reliability and initiative, he is often the first to step in and the last to step away when work needs to be done.
- Teamwork & Collaboration: Brandon fosters positivity and unity across departments, helping strengthen a workplace culture rooted in pride and cooperation.
- Leadership & Positive Influence: Through integrity, humility, and consistent professionalism, he inspires others and leads by example.
- Innovation & Continuous Improvement: His creative ideas and problem-solving mindset have enhanced Parks and Recreation operations, improving the experience for families and visitors across the City.
The family of Brad Kelly attended the City’s Annual Employee Christmas Party on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 to take part in the award presentation. In a heartfelt moment that captured Brad’s enduring impact, the Kelly family personally presented the award to Brandon Willis, offering encouragement and celebrating the continuation of Brad’s legacy.
Mayor Smith, City Council, the City Manager, and staff shared their gratitude for the opportunity to honor Brad each year through this award. This is more than a recognition of outstanding service, it is a reflection of the values we hold dear—service, compassion, and excellence—and a way to permanently carry forward Brad’s spirit in the work we do for our community.
The City of Bessemer City congratulates Brandon Willis on this well-deserved honor and expresses deep appreciation to the Kelly family for their continued connection and support. Through this award, Brad’s memory will continue to shine as an enduring reminder of what Heartfelt Living truly means. Bessemer City is a City With a Heart!
Bradford H. Kelly
May 21, 1984-January 12, 2025
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