Bruce Franklin Dempsey, a lifelong resident of the area, died peacefully at Stringfellow Memorial Hospital in Anniston on Thursday, May 9, after a hard-fought battle with esophageal cancer at the age of 80.
Bruce was born to Louise Dempsey in 1943, while his father, Thedford Dempsey, was serving overseas in the Philippines. He started working early in life and never really stopped. He was born poor but determined not to die that way. As a child, Bruce assisted his mother in the cotton fields; her raised hand would signal he should bring a cold drink of water. He hated picking cotton, he’d let you know that. Once employed as a picker (around age 7, best we know) he got caught sneaking rocks in his sacks. At around 10, he’d had enough. Knowing his mother would be angry, he fired up the iron and went at the family laundry. His mother returned to the house, red with rage, looking for him but then softened. Louise Dempsey would rather be outside, barefooted, than in the house—any day. The laundry was getting done, one way or another. She was appeased.
At age 16, Bruce was chosen to drive Munford school bus #40 (who was in charge those days?) up, down, and around Cheaha to collect the rural children of the county for school. He knew every road and holler of the mountain, and until his death, could tell you who lived where and give a basic family tree of all the residents of the winding dirt roads.
After graduating from Munford High School in 1961, Bruce joined the United States Air Force. He did his basic training at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, then was deployed as a Radio Repairman in Okinawa, Japan. After returning to the area from Okinawa in 1963, he married Janice Annette White at her parents’ home on January 17, 1964. The day after the wedding, the couple drove down to Niceville, Florida, where they lived in servicemen housing at Eglin Airforce Base. On December 18, 1964, the couple had their first child, Sondra Annette, and then the family moved back to the area in the summer of 1965. Bruce took a job working at the Anniston Army Depot and worked part-time at the Interstate Gulf Station. In 1967, a son, Thomas Bruce, was born. Bruce eventually took over the local Gulf franchise, and expanded the business to Anniston. Later, he purchased an old Waffle House that he converted to a full-service auto repair and gas station below Oxford High School. The Oxford One Stop operated beside the stadium for 25 years.
Bruce was elected to serve as a councilman for the city of Oxford from 1984-2000 as the liaison to the fire and police departments. This was a time of rapid growth and progress for the city of Oxford, and Mr. Dempsey was proud of the cooperative legacy of the councils he worked with to advance public safety, development, and social stability of the city. He enjoyed lifelong relationships with members of the council and public that he met during this time. He also served the community as a member of the Elk’s Lodge #189 for 30 years.
In his later years, Bruce enjoyed early morning breakfasts at Jack’s with friends, riding around Cheaha listening to gospel with a biscuit, and quietly holding court at the Hold ‘Em table. He was a source of constant wisdom and entertainment to his family and friends. Though a shrewd businessman, he was quietly generous and, throughout his life, he silently donated money, repaired tires, and provided practice fields for little league teams. His loss represents not just the loss of a man, but the loss of a way of life and a compendium of knowledge about the people and history of this area that will never be replaced.
Bruce was preceded in death by his wife Janice Annette Dempsey (White), parents Sara Louise Dempsey (McClain) and Thedford Franklin Dempsey, and sister Gayla Sue Dempsey (Paulson). He is survived by brothers Kenneth and Fred Junior Dempsey, children Tom and Sondra, and grandchildren Ellis Wilson Oswalt, Susan Emily and Dale Shamburger, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins who he cherished and looked after. Brenda Johnson was a special companion and caregiver to him til his death.
May he rest, finally able to, in peace—though we suspect he’s somewhere wheeling, dealing, and rustling up a poker game. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Rainbow Omega of Eastaboga.
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