William Worth Bridges, Jr. passed away on Sunday, December 14, 2014, at the age of 84. Worth was a devoted, loving, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Mr. Bridges was born near Ellenboro, NC, in Rutherford County on June 5, 1930, the son of the late William Worth Bridges, Sr. and Cova Kansas Bridges. Mr. Bridges moved from Rutherford County in 1960, and has been a long time resident of Tifton, GA, where he was employed by Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC). He served in a number of capacities at ABAC over the years before retiring as the Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs in 1995, after almost 28 years of service. He graduated from Hollis High School in Hollis, NC and farmed the family farm in Rutherford County in his teens and twenties. While continuing to farm, he attended Gardner Webb College in Boiling Springs, NC for his first two years. He then moved his family to the Greenville, SC area, attending and graduating from Furman University with his four year degree. He later obtained both a Masters Degree and a PhD from The University of Georgia. He was a member of Northside Baptist Church in Tifton and a former member of Walls Baptist Church in Bostic, NC. He loved fishing and gardening, and for many years after retirement, he used his counseling skills in volunteer work for the American Red Cross.
Mr. Bridges had recently celebrated his 65th Wedding Anniversary with his late wife, Hazel Marie Greene Bridges, also a native of Rutherford County, who passed away earlier this year. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Elizabeth Bridges of Canton, GA; his daughter and son-in-law, Robin and Ron Henning of Macon, GA; grandchildren Stephen, Will, and Laura Bridges, and Kristen and Caleb Henning; great-grandchildren Maci and Emory Bridges; two brothers-in law, Gerald Jones of Shelby, NC and Joseph Ray Greene and his wife, Mary Frances of Matthews, NC. In addition to his wife and his parents, Mr. Bridges was preceded in death by his daughter, Patsy Charlene Bridges, two brothers, William Norris Bridges and Clarence Evans Bridges, and his sister Thelma Doris Bridges Dycus.
The family will receive friends in the sanctuary of Walls Baptist Church, Bostic, NC, on December 19, 2014 from 1:00-1:45 p.m., followed by the funeral service in the sanctuary at 2:00 p.m. and graveside service in Walls Cemetery. Dr. Bob Lamb will officiate the services. McKinney-Landreth and Carroll Funeral Service, located at 4076 U.S. Highway 221-A, Cliffside, NC 28024, (828) 657-6322, is in charge of arrangements.
Flowers will be accepted. However, memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, are suggested to either the Northside Baptist Church Building Fund at 4605 Murray Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794, or to Walls Baptist Church at 749 Walls Church Road, Bostic, NC 28018.
A memorial service will be held at Northside Baptist Church in Tifton, GA, at a date to be determined later.
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