Mildred Jenelle Stamey Palmer

Jenelle was born the second of six children to Oliver Myles and Elizabeth Brown Stamey in Washington, Georgia, on August 27, 1932. At an early age, she became the older sister when Sarah, the firstborn child, passed away. After completing high school in Arnoldsville, Georgia, she met Edwin Herman Palmer, who became her husband on August 5, 1950. They set up housekeeping in Gainesville, both working at local mills. Early in their marriage, Edwin announced that he had joined the Air Force. Embracing her new reality, Jenelle began her life of packing and moving. As an Air Force wife, she lived in Sacramento, California; Waco, Texas; Arnoldsville, Georgia; Biloxi, Mississippi; Honolulu, Hawaii; Marietta, Georgia; and Fairfield, California. In each of these places, it was important that her family become part of a local church in which to serve and grow in faith.

Jenelle gave birth to two sons: James Beverly on November 8, 1952, in Athens, Georgia, and Phillip Burl on July 20, 1954, in Waco, Texas. She loved her sons and sacrificed her time, energy, and money to ensure they had all they needed and much of what they wanted.

Edwin and Jenelle were married for 47 years. Soon after his passing in 1997, a relative encouraged her to have coffee with a man who had recently lost his wife. Jenelle was hesitant but agreed to the meeting. The result of that meeting was a whirlwind romance that led to her marrying Preston Leon Bridges, Jr., on June 13, 1998, and the addition of four stepchildren to her family, who embraced her and loved her deeply.

Jenelle was predeceased by her mother and father; sister, Sarah Stamey; sister, Martha Stamey Hughes; son, James; granddaughter, Nicole Palmer (Rodney) Meyer; husbands, Edwin Palmer and Leon Bridges.

She is survived by her son, Phillip (Elayne); daughter-in-law, Marsha Palmer; stepson, Tom (Vicky) Bridges; stepdaughters: Debbie Bridges Lawhon, Marsha Bridges (Scott) Self, Cheryl Bridges; sister, Mary Bradley; brothers: Oliver (Geneva) Stamey and Ron (Nancy) Stamey; grandchildren, Julia (James) Smith; Timothy (Erin) Palmer; Luke (Katie) Palmer; Micah (Shonda) Palmer; step grandchildren, Pam (David) Bridges Self, Caleb (Carrie) Self, Ellen (Josh) Self Newmon, Shelly Abbott, Holly (Edras) Jimenez, and Lori Hatchett; 30 plus great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 5, at 11:00 a.m., in the Bernstein Funeral Home Chapel.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Interment will be on Monday, July 7 in Forest Hills Memorial Gardens in Forest Park, Georgia.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.