John Thornton Bradshaw, Jr.

John Thornton Bradshaw, Jr., age 77, unexpectedly passed away in his sleep on July 24, 2025, at his home in Beaumont.

He was born in Jacksonville, Florida on November 7, 1947- the son of John T. and Kathryn H. Bradshaw. Raised across the street from the ocean in Neptune Beach, Florida, he spent his youth surfing, making surfboards and was a member of the Neptune Beach Surf Club. He graduated from Duncan U. Fletcher High School in 1967.

John served in the United States Army from January 1968 to November 1972 and attained the rank of Specialist 5th Class. During his tenure in the Army, he was stationed in Germany for eighteen months. After returning to the United States, he trained at a radar/computer tech school in air defense systems at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.  While serving at US Army PCF, in Fort Bliss, he received an Army Commendation Medal for meritorious achievement and service.

On Thanksgiving Day 1972, John met his future wife, Melinda. They were married on August 14, 1976, and the couple settled in Jacksonville Beach before moving to Atlantic Beach, Florida where they lived for the next thirty-six years. They moved to Beaumont in 2021 to be close to their grandchildren.

He had a twenty-five-year career in the Maritime Industry. In August of 2001, John retired as the Vice President of Operations for Tampa Bay International Terminals, Tampa, Florida. Prior to that John was the Director of the South Atlantic at Columbus Line/Hamburg Sud. On two occasions he was employed as Vice President for McGiffin & Co. Steamship Agency, Foreign Freight Forwarders and Custom House Brokers. Before that he was the Vice President – Florida for Carolina Shipping Co. (Jacksonville, Florida), a steamship agency and contracting stevedoring company.

John served as President of the Jacksonville Maritime Association 1987 & 1988; Management Trustee for fifteen years of the Longshoremen Pension Welfare Fund, Port of Jacksonville; Board Member serving different terms as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Vice President of the Propeller Club of the United States, Port of Jacksonville as well as Leadership Jacksonville – class of 1987.

An avid sailor starting with Hobie Catamarans, he owned a Tartan 37 for twenty-eight years. He participated in the Jacksonville Mug Race and various other regattas throughout the years, and many sailing vacations with his sons and wife. He was also a car enthusiast with a special love for his BMW’s which he enjoyed repairing himself.

He is survived by his wife of almost forty-nine years, Melinda Mills Bradshaw; two sons, Jack (wife Mallorie), and Kyle (fiancée Nidia); and two grandchildren, James Preston, and Adeline Jane.

Mr. Bradshaw’s cremation arrangements were handled through Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A memorial celebration in Florida will be held at a future date.