date Miss Georgia. He wanted to
marry Carly. And he didn’t want to
wait another year to do it, although
the contract she signed before the
competition would require just that if
she was named Miss Georgia.
Carly had spent her entire senior
year at Valdosta State preparing for
this one event. Bradley reminded
himself that eight months of it had been
without him in her life. The separation
had left her heartbroken but also
made her realize just how dependent
68 Toombs County Magazine
she’d become on someone else for her
happiness. “I really thought he was
the one,” said Carly. “But after eight
months apart, I was finally willing to let
him go. Two weeks later, he shows up at
my door.” She laughed. “He’s sweet, but
not very romantic. So, when he hands
me a handwritten letter and flowers, I
knew it was a big deal.”
“Yeah. It took a lot out of me,” said
Bradley and grinned. Carly rolled her
eyes.
Carly and Bradley first met as
ABOVE Carly competing
in the 2011 Miss Georgia
pageant. “I think I was the
had ever seen,” said Carly.
LEFT Not long after they were
marriend, Bradley took his
“dream position” as head
wrestling coach at Toombs
he loved working with the
allowed him to gain two new
open doors for another love in
Bradley’s live. OPPOSITE PAGE
Bradley and Carly with their
participants in the first Toombs
Montgomery Youth Leadership class
of 2005/2006. Carly was from Vidalia
High School, and Bradley from Toombs
County High School.
“At the time, I had a boyfriend,”
said Carly.
“But she really liked me even then,”
said Bradley, smiling.
“I did,” said Carly. She returned his
smile. “We went to the prom together
the year I was a junior and he was a
senior, but it was as friends. I needed a