James H Bridges

A private family graveside service will be held on Saturday December 28, 2024, at Hermitage Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens in Hermitage, Tennessee. A Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at 2:00 PM at First United Methodist Church 265 W Thompson Lane Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37129, with a Celebration of Life Service following at 3:00 PM.

Jim was born on January 22, 1932, in Tullahoma, Tennessee to Lee and Lucinda Bridges. His father was a Superintendent at the local Worth Baseball Factory. His mother was a stay-at-home mom.

Jim was active in school athletics and Boy Scouts in his younger years. He ran paper routes and served as a lifeguard at the local pool for several summers. He attended Draughons Business School upon high school graduation, before entering the US Army in December 1952 and being assigned to Fort Jackson in South Carolina. He rose to the rank of Sergeant E-5 before transferring to Army Reserve in September 1954 and being Honorably Discharged in December 1960.

He entered Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (later Tennessee Technological University) in September 1954, majoring in Industrial Management. He was Editor-in-Chief of the TPI yearbook “Eagle” his Senior year. He met his future wife Nancy Coward while attending there. He soon moved to Pensacola, Florida. After getting married on June 25, 1960, they soon moved back to Tennessee and settled in Nashville, with Jim beginning work at GENESCO and Nancy as a teacher.

Their first child (Amy Lynn) was born in February 1962, and second child (James Alan) arrived in January 1965. They attended Arlington United Methodist Church and remained active until retiring and moving to Lake Tansi in Crossville, Tennessee in 1997. They sold their house and moved to Adams Place Senior Living Community in June 2020.

Jim’s hobbies were always related to “Do It Yourself” projects. He also enjoyed camping and traveling. He was active in the barbershop quartet community in his early adulthood as well as in church choir in his later years. He was also an avid runner and cyclist.

Mr. Bridges was preceded in death by his father Lee Hoyt Bridges; his mother Margaret Lucinda Adkins Bridges; and his sister Barbara Ann Bridges.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years Nancy Coward Bridges; daughter Amy Alexander (Gary); son Alan Bridges (Cindy); six grandchildren; and one great grandson.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Alive Hospice or First United Methodist Church, 265 W Thompson Ln, Murfreesboro, TN 37129.

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