Garafola Funeral Service Program - East Baton Rouge Sheriff`s Office

Active Pallbearers
In Loving Memory of
THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH HONOR GUARD
Honorary Pallbearers
THE GARAFOLA CHILDREN
BRIAN MICHAEL GARAFOLA
JOHN BRETT GARAFOLA
JOHN GARAFOLA
JAMES COOPER
The Garafola family wishes to express their sincerest thanks to the
men and women of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff ’s Office,
Baton Rouge Police Department, Louisiana State Police and
all other Law Enforcement agencies.
Thanks and well wishes also are expressed to the many families,
companies and people from around the world
that have shown their support, love and most of all their heart.
“Brad, I LOVE YOU! You were my soul mate, my BEST friend, my ROCK
and now you will always be my HERO! Forever your love.”
-Your wife, Tonja
“We love you Daddy! You are forever our Superman…….Fly high!”
-Your kids
Deputy Bradford Allen “Brad” Garafola
March 2, 1971 - July 17, 2016
“Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Order of Service
John 15:13
Musical Prelude������������������������������������������Istrouma Baptist Church Musicians
There are no words to adequately express the sorrow in losing our brother, Deputy
Bradford Allen “Brad” Garafola. He began his employment with the East Baton Rouge
Parish Sheriff ’s Office on April 23, 1992 at the age of 21. He worked in the Parish Prison
as a Corrections Deputy for 2 years and then transferred to Uniform Patrol, serving at the
Kleinpeter Substation and in the Traffic Division. In 2007, Brad transferred to the Civil
Division where he worked in Civil Process and lastly in Foreclosures. He received the
Civil Deputy of the Month award twice during his career. Brad touched the lives of many
people, in ways that we were not even aware of until now. Although his home was split
between being an Alabama, Roll Tide fan, Brad was a true LSU fan. Go Tigers!
Brad leaves behind his wife Tonja and four children, Garrett Garafola, Braley Nikole
Garafola, Brad Allen Garafola Jr. and Samantha Miley Garafola. Parents, John and Emily
Marie Garafola (Baton Rouge, La.), his brothers, John Brett Garafola (Baton Rouge,
La.) and Brian (Christie) Garafola (Livonia, La). He is also survived by his mother-inlaw, Mary Ellen (Glenn) Wells (Denham Springs, La.), sister-in-law, Jennifer Lemoine
(Denham Springs, La.). A brother-in-law, James Cooper (fiance’ Kenya Harris both of
Baton Rouge, La.), sister-in-law Natasha (Cory) Dufrene (Walker, La.), paternal uncle “SJ”
(Linda) Garafola (Denham Springs, La.), and (maternal aunt) Sheila Currier (Loranger,
La.). Brad also leaves behind, a grandmother, Ms. Dorothy Hardegree (Mobile, Alabama).
Brad cherished the friendship he held between, Mr. Robert Bowman and Mr. Anthony
Aguiniga, who he both enjoyed cooking and entertaining with. He also leaves behind a
host of nieces, nephews and countless friends.
Opening Song��������������������������������������������“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
Opening Statement������������������������������������Casey Hicks, EBRSO Public Information Director
Welcome�����������������������������������������������������Pastor Jeff Ginn, Lead Pastor of Istrouma Baptist Church
Hymn����������������������������������������������������������“Amazing Grace”
Prayer���������������������������������������������������������Chaplain Kenneth Ellis, EBR Sheriff Chaplain
Expressions������������������������������������������������The Honorable John Bel Edwards, Governor of the State of Louisiana
The Honorable William “Bill” Cassidy, United States Senator
The Honorable Garrett Graves, United States Congressman
The Honorable Sid J. Gautreaux, III, Sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish
Mr. Jaye Cooper, Brother-in-Law
Recognition of Public Officials�����������������Casey Hicks, EBRSO Public Information Director
Song������������������������������������������������������������“How Great Thou Art”
Eulogy���������������������������������������������������������Pastor Jeff Ginn, Lead Pastor of Istrouma Baptist Church
Closing Prayer�������������������������������������������Chaplain Gordon Atwell, EBR Sheriff Chaplain
Brad is preceded in death by paternal grandparents Sam (Ethel) Garafola, maternal
grandparents Austin (Christine) Miley.
Brad was a 1989 graduate of Broadmoor High School in Baton Rouge, La., where he
also played baseball and football.
There will be no graveside service, but there will be a processional from
Istrouma Baptist Church to Greenoaks Funeral Home.