Perry Bridges

Bogart - Perry Lynfield (Bam) Bridges, 87, died August 9, 2008.
A native and longtime resident of Blakely, Ga., he was the son of the late John Oscar and Caroline Ward Blackshear Bridges. He has made his home in Athens since 1997.
Mr. Bridges was a U.S. Army Combat Medic, ETO, WWII, during which he received the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster. He attended North Georgia College and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Mr. Bridges was a graduate of the University of Georgia, where he received his BS and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He received his Master's from Troy State University. Mr. Bridges was employed for many years with the Early County Health Department and retired as District Director of Environmental Services, Georgia Department of Human Resources. In 1980, he was named Sanitarian of the Year for the State of Georgia. Following his retirement, he served as Public Relations Director for Early Memorial Hospital and was an active farmer.
Mr. Bridges served in many civic organizations including Past President of the Blakely Lions Club, Past President of the Blakely Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow and Past President of the Blakely-Early County Chamber of Commerce. He was a Mason and Shriner.
Mr. Bridges was a former member of the First Baptist Church of Blakely, where he served as Choir Director for several years, taught the Businessmen's Bible Study Class for over 25 years and was a Deacon for a number of years and served as Chairman. He later joined Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Blakely where he was a Lay Reader. After moving to Athens, he became a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Patricia Forrester Bridges; daughter, Patricia Bridges Massey (Sam) of Athens; sons, Col. (Ret.) Perry Lynfield Bridges Jr. (Terry) of Troy, Pa. and Col. (Ret.) Clay Forrester Bridges (Laurence) of Ankara, Turkey; nine grandchildren, Samuel Edwin Massey Jr., Patricia Lynnfield Massey, James Ross Massey, Margaret Elizabeth Massey, Robert Forrester Bridges, Caroline Ashley Bridges, Taylor Kendall Bridges, Allison Gaynor Bridges and Amy Elizabeth Bridges.
Memorial services will be Sunday, August 24, 2008 at 3 p.m. at St. Mary's Highland Hills Village.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a favorite charity.
Lord and Stephens, WEST, is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com.