Acclaimed actress Jen Lilley (“Days of Our Lives”) has penned a moving heartfelt tribute to late photographer friend Brad Everett Young who was tragically killed in a car accident on September 14th at the age of 46.
In a post on social media, Lilley expressed, “I can’t believe you’re gone. The man who just took this photo is dead. I woke up in shock and disbelief. I was sure it was a rumor. @bradley206 was one of my dearest friends. He always joked that if he ever wrote a ‘Tell All’ book, he’d force me to co-write. He always made me laugh, was the only photographer I ever fully trusted and was completely natural in front of.”
Lilley continued, “There’s hundreds more photos and videos in my archive, and thousands on your computer and camera I’ll never see. But you were so much more than everyone’s fave celebrity photographer. You were my friend. We’d hang for hours and talk about life and the ups and downs of our crazy industry. We’d eat pie and cake and talk about our Virginia roots.”
“You loved your mom and brother more than life. I just have no words for all I’m feeling. And I know it’s going to be a while before I realize you’re gone. I just talked to you. It’s not fair. It’s just not fair. Love your friends and families well. Keep sharing the Truth and Love with them! Life is shorter than we ever expect. #RipBradEverettYoung,” she said.
In an interview with this journalist (that dates back to May of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic), Lilley stated, “I love Brad Everett Young. He is my favorite photographer and he knows it. I am so comfortable around him, and he has become such a dear friend.”
“Brad has this unique way of capturing exactly who you are on camera but he can make you look beautiful even when you are being goofy. I have no idea how he does it,” she said.
“Dream Loud is such a wonderful campaign because it’s pro-artist. I do believe that everybody is creative. We are all artists,” she said. “With Dream Loud, Brad Everett Young is spreading the message of dreaming loud, and dreaming big. He is incredible. Go for it.”
This journalist who also knew Brad Everett Young (and worked with him on numerous occasions) echoes all of Jen Lilley’s remarks. May Brad Everett Young rest in peace and may be memory be forever eternal
