Mary Jo Bridges

Alexandria - Mary Jo Bridges, of Alexandria and long-time Anniston,resident passed away on Saturday, November 6,2010 at the Jacksonville Medical Center.Mrs.Bridges, better known as just Mary Jo,was born on April 14,1924, the daughter of Joseph Wellington Spradley and Mary Lou Eichelberger Spradley and was raised in Anniston.She was active all through her years in Anniston High School and married her AHS sweetheart, Dr. Thomas Elisha (Tommy) Bridges, on his birthday, May 23, 1943 while he was home on leave as a Navy Lt. A proud Auburn alum,Mary Jo valued education and was active in PTA through all grade levels of her children. At Tenth Street School, she is probably best remembered for organizing the school’s yearly talent shows held in the cafetorium.Then, too, she was always present at various school activities with video camera in hand to record the even tfor posterity. No doubt many people will recall seeing her at playgrounds picnics, parades, swim meets, etc. capturing the excitement. Mrs. Bridges was a historian without realizing it. Many residents will recall Mary Jo’s work in numerous Anniston community groups and her dedication to whatever project she took on. She was a firm believer that you take from and thus should give back to the community through

committed service. The Girl Scouts, Mental Health, League of Women Voters, United Methodist Women and Bible School, Camp Lee, Anniston Fellowship House, Chink Lott Reunions, COUL (Committee of Unified Leadership),and others benefited from her time and talents.At home, Mary Jo was a devoted wife and mother who managed the schedules of five active children and later cared for her sister, Blanche Marie Spradley, along with her mother when they moved into the Bridges’ home on Glenwood Terrace.

Somehow, there was always enough time in her days for whomever needed her. Life, however, changed for her, the family and truly everyone she was associated with when she suffered a massive stroke on the golf course in May, 2000.While she recovered enough physically to get around with help, in 2003 she and Dr. Bridges moved in with their

daughter, Moo, and her husband in Alexandria.She resided there under Moo’s loving, attentive care until her death.Mrs. Bridges was preceded in death by her husband,mother and sister and is survived by all five children, SallyAnn Davis (Guy), of Atlanta,Ga.; Moo Woodruff (Johnny), of Alexandria; Charlotte Price (Wallace), of Anniston, ;Sue Mathis (Phil), of Gainesville, Ga.; and Joe Spradley Bridges (Pam), of Niceville, Fla., along with ten grandchildren, Mary Kay McCutchen, Gary Hall, Dave Phillips, Erin Woodruff, VanWoodruff, Tom Price, Randi Rouk, Holly Lonergan, Amanda Bridges Dodd and Logan Bridges.There are nineteen great-grandchildren in addition to one nephew and one niece. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday,November 13, 2010, in the chapel at First United Methodist Church in Anniston.The family will greet friends at 1 p.m. in the chapel’s narthex