What Others Say:
“The story of our first meeting says a lot about Linda Bradley and her hospitality. Being from the West, my first exposure to the South came about 20 years ago. I was the new sales guy, yet Linda and David would not let me stay in a hotel. They took me into their home—and introduced me to grits.
Linda is one of the most genuine people I know. She does so much for her church. She takes kids in, and makes her home a recreational center and safe place for them. She goes way beyond the call of duty, looking out for the best interests of her community and her industry, putting their good ahead of her own. She always keeps going; a real-life energizer bunny. She’s a great mom, a great wife, a great boss; and a great friend.”
Angel Lopez National Sales Manager for TAMANET (USA)
Linda Bradley running alongside an Oliver tractor preparing for the parade of vintage equipment at TPI’s 2012 Field Day at Turf Mountain Sod. Photo by Jim Novak
enough for others. She loves people in a big way—her family, church family, employees, community, and those she encounters in the mission field. She and her husband—you can’t say Linda without saying David—have taken people into their home and share whatever they have with just about anybody.
As Pastor of their church for 25 years, and now as Director of Missions for 54 churches in Henderson County, I have traveled literally thousands of miles with them. We’ve gone to Chile for a wedding; and to central Asia and across much of the U.S. to serve on mission trips that have us working together from early morning into the night. We’ve seen each other in some of our best times and in some of our worst and I’ve been blessed by their friendship through it all.”
Dr. Michael Smith Director of Missions for the Carolina Baptist Association
Sod harvested during the 2012 Field Day at Turf Mountain Sod was donated to Henderson County Habitat for Humanity. (Houston Habitat for Humanity was the recipient of the sod harvested at All Seasons Turf Grass after the Field Day in February 2016.) Photo by Jim Novak
“If I had to pinpoint what makes Linda tick it’s probably what she saw and heard at an early age, especially from her paternal grandmother, Mattie Pittillo. Mattie was one of the most genuine Christians that I’ve ever known in how she treated people and loved people. That impacted Linda. She’s a dynamo who can’t seem to do
TPI Turf News July urf News July/August 2016
“Linda Bradley, there are not enough words to praise that young lady. I think of her as the redheaded ball of fire. We’ve run so many miles together. I’m so proud of her being TPI president.
I knew her dad, Fred Pittillo, first. I met Linda when she came to help him at one of the nursery shows and she just fit right in—like she’d always been there. Fred is just beaming about her all the time. Being around them you have this really good feeling and they brought that feeling into all the shows. The nursery business is so
Linda and Miss Lou Ballew at the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association Trade Show. Miss Lou, now retired from Oakland Plantation, called her position, “jack of all trades,” while others felt the more appropriate title was “First Lady of Sod.”
much about family, with two, three or more generations working in the business. We’re all in it together and we all care about each other.
Linda is pretty; she’s very intelligent; if she sees something that needs doing she just does it. She’s wonderful to talk to, always welcoming people who want to chat; yet she’s very efficient, managing her time well so she takes care of her projects, too. And she knows how to have a good time. Anybody that knows Linda can count her as one of their blessings. I do.”
Miss Lou Ballew Retired Jack of all Trades Oakland Plantation
Suz Trusty is co-editor of Turf News.
All photos courtesy of Linda Pittillo Bradley, unless otherwise attributed.
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