Well done Ashley. You've done an excellent job describing who Brad was and what he meant to so many, most importantly, his family. Over the years I've heard many of the phrases and heard of some of the people you wrote about. Brad lived a good life and we're all the better for it. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of you.

This is beautiful, Ashley. I feel like I know him so well now and can see where your naturally loving, caring and curious spirit comes from. Praying for and thinking of you guys. Love you!

What wonderful memories. Your family was rich as well.

Such a beautiful tribute

This is so beautifully written, Ashley, and so full of everything that made your dad wonderful to know. You did him proud.

When I think about the many hours I spent at the Harp home, so many things come to mind: Laughter. Good food. Stories. And those gorgeous Southern voices. Your dad and mom created such a wonderful, memorable place to be, a place that filled my heart every time.

One of my favorite moments every visit was the moment when your dad would call me in to hug his neck. I don't know how he managed to make it feel so special, but my heart swelled every. single. time. Those hugs made me feel so seen, so welcome, and so loved. At a time in my life when I often struggled to feel like I belonged, they felt like confirmation that I would always have a safe place to land. There were times when a Mr. Harp hug silently said everything that I needed to hear.

How grateful I feel to have been enveloped in those incredible hugs and to be a guest at the Harp home, witness to the beautiful family and life that your parents created together. Your dad's abundant love, amazing gift for storytelling, work ethic, and devotion are so clearly a part of all of you. What a wonderful legacy he leaves behind.

Sending love and big hugs to you all.

An incredible tribute to a life well lived, well deserved by all accounts. The Chicken Man clearly has left behind a family who loved him as much as he loved them.

AMEN!!! Love to ya'll. Rebecca Harp Long

Very well written and so very true. Love you'll very much. Linda Harp Manning

I got to know your mom and Dad when I worked beside your mom at OCES. We kept up with our children , shared love and a wonderful friendship. Charles and Brad always like to talk, mostly about anything because they were both were very well versed on any and everything. Your parents are and were just wonderful people to know and love. I always felt like a midget beside your dad. He will be greatly missed by all of you, his children that he did dearly love and of course mom. People who are married as long as they were is sadly not seen much anymore. We were married 55, and all those years aren’t easy, but Brad and Ann were a good example of a couple who’s love and having the Lord with them can make it. I love your mom and all the children, sorry I haven’t met all the grands ,but I know their love of him is so special. Give everybody a big hug from me.

When Jason and Anna became best friends in school, your dad, mama, Doug and I became friends too! Even though we didn’t live in the neighborhood, hang out together or go to the same church, we were still good friends! And when we saw each other, usually at ball games or other school functions it was like we had seen each other just a day or so ago. That’s the kind of people your parents were: warm, friendly, outgoing and just plain family to others! Brad and Doug could tell some tall tales and then enjoy their own laughter about them! We really missed them when everybody was out of school, but when I’d see your mama at the school or see them at the grocery store we’d spend a while catching up (usually about all the children and grandchildren we all had)! The kind of friends Brad and Anne Harp and their family were to us, as well as many others, will always be a warm and loving memory that the Dickens family will treasure! God bless y’all ❤️