Mary Jane Bridges

Mary Jane Bridges, 88, went home to be with her Savior on October 17, 2025.

A celebration of life will be held on November 1, 2025 at 10:00 am, at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.

Mary Jane was born November 25, 1936, to Flossie and Carl Astin in Newnan, Georgia. She was an only child but was raised alongside her cousin Reese Alan Summerlin who was like a brother to her. Her Aunt Margaret and Uncle Lloyd (Snapper) Toney were also very instrumental in her upbringing. Snapper was a Southern Baptist minister and instilled in her a love for God and a regional style of gospel music known as Sacred Harp.

Mary Jane lived a long, beautiful life dedicated to her family and to her Lord Jesus Christ. She had a lifelong love of cooking and was well known for her delicious meals, both fancy and southern home cooked style. She managed the T Bar M Racquet Club for several years, and later the Clarendon Country Club, and held a number of other positions in the food and hospitality industry. She operated her own catering business, MJ’s We Cater to You, for many years. Unwilling to let her fabulous recipes be lost, her family has collected them in our own family cookbook to enjoy for generations to come. Her daughters and several of her granddaughters have inherited her talent. Feeding people delicious food was her love language.

As far as any of us know, Mary Jane never took any classes in psychology or counseling. Yet, she was the one everybody went to for advice or sympathy or a listening ear. She had a unique ability to make you feel seen and heard, to ask the right questions and say the right things. She delivered wisdom without condescension, correction with gentleness and compassion, and a difference of opinion always with respect and good humor.

Mary Jane married the love of her life, Kenny Bridges, on December 31, 1981. They lived much of their life together in their beloved Lakehouse at Lake Greenbelt, which was the old T Bar M Racquet Club. After it closed, Kenny and Mary Jane bought it, moved it to the lake and renovated it. The Lakehouse was the setting where so many wonderful family memories were made. The family would gather there every Christmas Eve, and almost every July 4th, as well as many Thanksgivings, and lots of summer weekends. The grandchildren unanimously consider the Lakehouse as the center of their fondest childhood memories.

Gran, as she was affectionately called by her grandkids, welcomed anyone who came to her door. No one had to wonder if they were loved by her. Her grandkids would argue over who her favorite was- each one convinced it was them. That in itself tells you what kind of grandma she was. Gran worked tirelessly to make every holiday magical, and did everything she could to foster the relationships between everyone in the family. Her legacy will live on through her close-knit family, following the example that she set.

Mary Jane is survived by Kenny, her husband of nearly 50 years. He took wonderful care of her in her final years, rarely leaving her side. Children include her son Tony Pulley and wife Connie, daughter Sandra Smith and husband Bruce, son Cody Pulley and fiancée Brandy Cook, daughter Wanda Fowler and husband Ken, and daughter Misty Pfeiffer and husband Dennis. Grandchildren are Joshua Greene and wife Cassie, Evan and Caden Greene, Mindy Bock and husband Todd, Skyler and Sierra Bock, Ashley Thompson, Lance Thompson, Christy King, Hope Smith, Faith and Madalyn Barnum, Anna Hoffman and husband Steven, Claire and Cache Hunter, Rachel Langston and husband Corey and Beckett Langston, Hannah Crites and husband Skyler, Charlotte and Brody Crites, Katrina Bowen and husband Trevin, Lily Solis, Sophie and Reese Bowen, Paul Pulley and wife Briley, Ammon and Austin Jane Pulley, Kayla Molina and husband Dustin, Triton and Magnolia Molina, Jimmy McMann, Charlotte and Kyler McMann, Chante Moore and Chasta Light; and like a son, Don Flint.

She was preceded in death by her parents Flossie and Carl Astin, her Aunt Margaret and Uncle Lloyd Toney, cousin Reese Alan Summerlin, grandson Kyle McMann, dearest friends EJ Goff, Sally Ann Pulley and Sheila House.