Coast Guard Vet Bradley Drew Lea, 29, Dies

Heaven has truly gained a Hero. Bradley Drew Lea, 29 of Millington, TN., formerly of Tallapoosa, GA., passed away on Aug. 1, due to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Mr. Lea was born in Biloxi, MS. on Aug. 6, 1983. He was a 2002 graduate of Haralson County High School. He married Vanessa L. Anders in January of 2004.

Brad joined the Coast Guard in 2003. He was currently serving as Boatswains Mate First Class. He was scheduled to receive the Coast Guard Commendation Medal for Outstanding Achievement in August, while assigned to the Enforcement Division Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River, in Memphis, Tennessee.

Some of his accomplishments from 2008 to 2013 include training more than 200 law enforcement officers from 36 local, state and federal agencies in water safety and survival techniques, vessel boarding tactics and small boat operations, 28 search and rescue cases as well as saving 4 people who were trapped in their homes during Hurricane Sandy. He led a small crew supporting the Bird’s Point levee demolition, during the historic Mississippi River floods of 2011, they coordinated and maintained a 24-hour moving security zone, safeguarding the transportation of high explosives on an 8 day, 230 mile transit through challenging weather and river conditions, these efforts, led to the successful demolition of the levee preventing an unplanned break that would have jeopardized the people of Cairo, IL.

Brad was passionate about what he did, and he was honored to serve his country. He also had a love for playing his guitar, writing songs, singing, and he enjoyed woodworking.

He is preceded in death by his Grandfather Veston Lea and one uncle, Steve Jackson.

Survivors include his wife, Vanessa Lea, daughter Layla, mother, Rhonda Yates of Carrollton, twin brother Blake Lea of Carrollton, brother Kane Jones of Tallapoosa, brothers Gino Gage and Zack Omedeo of Carrollton, sister Abigayle Omedeo of Carrollton, grandparents, Kenneth and Gayle Yates of Carrollton, Peppy and Jane Ruiz of Biloxi, MS. Aunts: Marlene Jackson of Carrollton, Valerie Reed of Las Vegas, NV. Vicky Swanson of Green Bay, WI, aunt and uncle Darren and Gena Lea of Biloxi, MS. Uncle Dan Defnall of Stone Mountain, Ga.

Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Martin & Hightower Heritage Chapel with Chaplain Stephen Scott of the United States Coast Guard officiating. Interment will follow at West Georgia Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday at one until the hour of service.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.martin-hightower.com. Martin & Hightower Heritage Chapel of Carrollton has charge of the arrangements.  

View the online memorial here.