General Notes

[coosa1.ged]
"Hanover News
"A. L. Bridges and son, Thomas, vistied the home of G. H. Gothard."(1)
(1) The Chronicle, Hanover News, 17 Mar 1911, p. 5. Published in
Rockford, Coosa Co., AL. Microfilm: Located in the Alabama Archives and
History, Montgomery, AL.
On May 21, 1997, Kirney Bridges informed me that Kid had one brown eye
and one blue eye.  On May 22, 1997, Ann Bridges confirmed this fact to me.
Thomas Lafayett Bridges, nickname "The Kid".  He was born August 2,
l900, and died September 5, 1981, on a Saturday. He was buried in the
Cemetery of the Union Congregation Church in Elmore County,  Marbury,
AL.  He was given the nickname "The Kid" by his two older sisters, Allie
and Leila Bridges.  The Kid did it or let The Kid do it.  His wife was
Ola B. Tippett Bridges, who was born August 1, 1901, and died October 20,
1967.  She is buried beside her husband.  Their children were Alvin W.
Bridges of Clanton AL; Lester H. Bridges of Stewartville, Coosa County,
AL; James Chester Bridges; Harold Bridges of Slapout, Elmore County, AL;
and Ann Bridges Patterson in Deatsville, Elmore County, AL.  Kid called
the Union Congregation Church the "Hard Luck Church" because so many
people died who attended the church.  He wanted to be buried in the
cemetery of the Liberty Primitive Baptist Church located in Coosa County
just outside of Rockford, AL.  This was because he had relatives and
friends buried there.  However, his son, James, told him you know you
should be buried beside your wife.  The Kid attended school at Flint Hill
and received a second grade education.  James, his son, said he learned
from the Blue Back Speller.
While talking with James Bridges he referred to Coosa County as
Coosie.  He also showed me a 12 gauge shotgun, a Champion brand, which
was first owned by Alvin L. Bridges, his Grandfather and my
Great-Grandfather.  Alvin gave it to his son and my Grandfather, Evie
Davis Bridges, who was called by his nickname "Buck".  While on horseback
Buck used it overseeing and guarding the prisoners, who were doing farm
work on Kilby Prison in Montgomery, AL.  A spring in the shotgun broke.
Later Buck sold it to his brother, Kid.  Kid fixed it with a graffton
spring.  Kid's wife, Ola, gave it to her son, James, and told him to keep
it in the family.
Later that day, James took my Dad, Evie, and me to the Union
Congregation Church to see Kid's and Ola's graves.  On Kid's stone was
chiseled picture of a man's arm holding a hammer with these words above
it:  Love to You Father, Busy Hands Hadeth He.  James told me that he and
Ann decided to use this picture and words because their father was a
carpenter.  On Ola's gravestone there is a picture of flower in a vase.
Below it are the words Lilly of the Valley. James said  Kid selected this
picture and words after the Hymn:  Lilly of the Valley.
My Dad later spotted a gravestone, which had the name Bridges on it.
He asked James who was this Bridges.  He said it was his and his wife
gravestone.  On left side of the large gravestone was his name James C.
Bridges.  Below his name was his birth date: August 15, 1923.  At the
foot of his grave was a bronze plaque that read:
CPL (for corporal)
World War II
European Theater
American Service Medal
5 Bronze Arrowhead Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Service
Good Conduct Medal
World War II Victory Medal
To the right of James' name was the date:  Nov. 22, 1947, which was
the date he married Lovie Mae Strength.  To the right of this date was
written:  Lovie Mae Bridges.  Under her name was her birth date August 7,
1928.
This information was gathered on July 7, 1994, at James and Lovie Mae
Bridges’ house by, Ronald D. Bridges.  My Dad, Evie Davis (Ed) Bridges,
was also present.