Connie Louise B. Bridges
Connie Louise B. Bridges was born on October 17, 1925, in Mooresboro, NC to the late Pinkney Edward Bridges and Annie Bell Weaver. Louise was the second oldest of eight children. Her older sister Doris died at a young age. Louise then became the oldest and took on helping the rest of her siblings. She graduated from Mooresboro High School, before attending Shelby Commercial College and Cleveland County Technical Institute. She was married to R.C. Bridges on April 28th, 1943. They were married for 68 years and had 4 boys. She worked various jobs when her oldest son, Bobby was young. Then when Bobby became handicapped, she became a mother with a mission. Louise helped to organize, fundraise and advocate for equality in public schools for all handicapped children across the country, even taking her plea to Washington, D.C. She also helped to acquire a walk over bridge to be built for students to cross Highway 74 in Shelby, NC and be able to get to and from school safely. Along with her advocacy for equality in schools and safety for her community, Louise was also a woman of great faith as a charter member of Westview Baptist Church in Shelby, NC. She was even a den leader for her local cub scouts when her boys were younger. Louise ran and operated her own real estate office for over 10 years. She and her husband R.C. ran and operated "Bridges Radio and TV" for over 48 years. While being a busy businesswoman, a loving wife, and mother took up most of her time, she still found time to do the things she loved including cooking, sewing, photography, and taking care of everyone around her. She was very much a people person that never met a stranger, because she loved talking to people and had stories for days. Her later days were spent in Cleveland Pines Nursing Facility. On March 12 at 10:11 PM she transitioned to her heavenly paradise after a long illness.
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