James E "Ned" Bridges

View Video Tribute View Funeral Webcast Mr. James Edward "Ned" Bridges, 81, retired from TVA, died Thursday, February 13, 2014 at his residence on Claremont Drive. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols with Rev. Mike Dawson and Rev. Billy Kimbrough officiating. Entombment will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens Mausoleum with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until time of service at the funeral home. Condolences may be offered online at www.oakesandnichols.com. A native of Calhoun County, Georgia, he was the son of the late James E. Bridges and Ruby Smith Bridges. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Georgia Tech and served in the U. S. Army attaining the rank of First Lieutenant. In 1977 he married Jeanette McMurtry Kelly Bridges of Columbia who survives. His first wife, Nell Thomas Bridges, preceded him in death in 1976. Mr. Bridges was District Area Supervisor of Electrical Engineers with TVA. He was very active in the Masonic Lodge, York Rites, Eastern Star Chapter 318 and Amaranth and was a member of Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19 and the Maury County Historical Society. Mr. Bridges was a member of First Baptist Church where he was a Deacon and taught Sunday School for fifty years. He had his private pilot's license and enjoyed flying, camping and spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife survivors include sons, Harold (Elaine) Kelly of Columbia, Mark (Patsy) Bridges of Culleoka; daughters, Patricia (Gerald) Mitchell of Decatur, Alabama, Janet (Mike) Belt and Libby (Corky) White both of Columbia, Jean (Mike) Crosby of Brentwood, Jane (Mike) Scott of Columbia; sister, Verne Hawk of Enterprise, Alabama; fifteen grandchildren; and twenty great-grandchildren. Family members will serve as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers include Randy Harness, Leon Dixon, Frank Bale, Jim Edlin, Robert Belt, Deacons of First Baptist Church, Dr. Reams Powers and Rev. Elmer Crosby.