Mary C. Bridges

Mary Charlotte Bridges was born in Opelika, Alabama on April 3, 1939 to the late John Henry and Mary Precious Bridges. She was the third oldest of their seven children, and their first daughter. She was affectionally known by her family as “Totsie”. She attended public schools in Lee County (Opelika), Alabama until her family moved to Apopka, Florida in 1951 where she attended Phyllis Wheatley from 1951-1954, Hungerford High School from 1955-1956. She graduated from Phyllis Wheatley High School in 1957, where she played basketball and greatly enjoyed her classmates. She eagerly looked forward to seeing old friends at the biennial Phyllis Wheatley class reunions. Mary moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1967, where she lived with her brother Nathaniel for several years. She lived in Brooklyn for 37 years. While living in New York, Mary worked for Everlast Pen Company and the City of New York for 17 years as a Community Associate in the Environmental Control Board Department until she retired in May 2004. After retirement, she moved back to Florida to help take care of her mother and to be with her family. While living in New York, Mary would often travel back to Florida several times per year to be with her children and spend summer vacations and Christmas holidays with her family. One of her children’s fond and treasured memories was their trips to New York to spend the summers with her. She was an awesome cook and took great joy in her family and friends enjoying her cooking (and she inpatiently waited for compliments!). Everything she cooked was great, but she took great pride in making chicken dressing, banana pudding and the famous carrot cake which she made from scratch. She enjoyed shopping, going on cruises and listening to great music. Some of her favorite artist were Bobby Womack, Bobby Blue Bland, Tyrone Davis, Wilson Pickett, The Mighty Clouds of Joy and the Williams Brothers. Nurtured in a Christian home, Mary accepted Christ at an early age. She was a faithful and dedicated member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Apopka, Florida and volunteered with the Tutoring Program. She took great joy in taking her great-granddaughter Persaeis to church with her on Sundays and spending time with her on weekends and summer. She served as the secondary guardian for Persaeis and worked with her father, Raymond, to help take care of her. Mary was a dedicated and constant care giver to her son, Dexter Bridges, and devoted her life to taking care of him. On Thursday Morning, December 6, 2018, Mary entered into sweet rest with the Saints in Heaven. Her departure is a deep and personal loss to her family and she will be deeply missed by them all. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, John Henry and Mary Precious Bridges, son, Bruce Bridges, brother, Henry Louis (Sonny) Bridges, sisters, Geraldine McGraw and Joann Bridges, grandson, Spencer Jamal Bridges. Mary Leaves to cherish her memory: five children, Veronica Willis, Atlanta, Georgia; Dexter Bridges, Apopka, Florida; Willie Flowers Jr. (Anita), Orlando, Florida; Sandra Brooks (Byron), Orlando, Florida; Spencer Bridges (Sara), Orlando, Florida; Grandchildren, Sheria Willis, Jerrica Willis , Kyle Bryce Willis (Jasmine), Atlanta, Georgia; Bruce Bridges Jr., Orlando, Florida; Dante Flowers (Carmen), St. Louis, Missouri; Jasmyne Wolfe, Tampa, Florida; Jared Brooks, Winter Park, Florida; Imani Brooks, Orlando, Florida; LaShonda Rosa (Victor), Orlando, Florida; Javon Bridges, Jaryl Bridges, Clermont, Florida; Jasmine Bridges, Chicago, Illinois; Great-Grandchildren, Persaeis Willis, Chance Miller, Braylon Willis, Roman Willis, Jamie Bridges, Jayden Eason, Brandon Dixon, Kimora Bridges; brothers, Nathaniel Bridges, New York, New York; Arnell Bridges (Bernice), Orlando, Florida; sister, Josephine Smith, Apopka, Florida; brother-in-law, Deacon James McGraw; Daughter-In-Law, Olivia Bridges, Orlando, Florida; a host of wonderful nieces, nephews, cousins and sorrowing friends.

Tributes

Mary C. Bridges

April 3, 1939 - December 6, 2018