Gilbert A. Bridges, Sr.

Gilbert Asa Bridges died February 5, 2014, at the Mississippi State Veterans Home in Oxford, Mississippi. He was 90. Born November 27, 1923, near Lambert, he was the son of Willie Frank and Lena Grice Bridges, and the eldest of eight children. A veteran of World War II, he served in the United States Army Infantry in the Philippines and in occupied Japan. In 1950 he married Vivian “Sis” Murphree . They made their first home in Lambert, and it was there that their three children were born. In the late sixties Mr. and Mrs. Bridges moved to Batesville and soon became partners and then owners of Batesville Implement Company. He made a career in the farm equipment industry until retirement in 1994. An avid gardener, he was a tireless worker, but most of all, he was “Tepaw” to his family. Throughout his life Mr. Bridges was involved in his church and community. He was a member of Lions Club International and served on the school board in Lambert. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a Mason. He was an active member of the Eureka Methodist Church and later Batesville First United Methodist Church where he was a faithful member of the Wesleyan Sunday School Class. Mr. Bridges was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Billy Bridges, and a sister Mary Helen Bridges Alford. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Vivian, and their children, Sharman Bridges Smith, Teresa Bridges Myers and her husband David, and Gil Bridges and his wife Nancy. Grandchildren include Heather Smith Benfer and husband Jason, Millicent Smith, Chris Myers and wife Rachel, Jennifer Myers Garner and husband Reggie, Melba Major, J.R. Major, and Bowen Bridges and wife Abbey. Great-grandchildren include Colson, JJ, Payton, and Lena Benfer; Greer, Shafer, and Bennett Garner; and Anne Ruth Bridges. Visitation will be Thursday, February 6 in the Gathering Room of First United Methodist Church Activities Building from 5 until 7 p.m. and Friday morning, February 7 in the Gathering Room of the Activities Building from 9:30 until 10:30. Funeral services will be Friday, February 7, at 10:30 at Batesville First United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to Batesville First United Methodist Church, 119 Panola Ave., Batesville, MS 38606 or to the Methodist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 66, Clinton, MS 39060.