Mrs. Jerlene Blanchard Bridges, 82, died Wednesday morning August 17, 2016 at her residence in Ellisville.  Services for Mrs. Bridges were held on Thursday August 25, 2016 at Spring Hill M. B. Church in Ellisville, with Pastor Leander Bridges officiating.  Interment was in the Rose Hill M. B. Church Cemetery in Silver Creek, with Laird Mortuary in charge of all arrangements.

Mrs. Bridges was the oldest of nine children born to the late Javous Blanchard and the late Marlena Aultman Blanchard of rural Jefferson Davis County.  At an early age, she joined the Rose Hill M. B. Church and remained a faithful member until she married and moved to Laurel with her husband and Pastor and united with the Morning Star M. B. Church.  Mrs. Bridges served her Lord and Morning Star in the Sunday School, Mission, Junior Red Circle and B.T.U.  After the death of her husband, she reunited with the Rose Hill Church and continued to work faithfully until her health failed.

Mrs. Bridges was born in Jefferson Davis County and educated in the Lawrence County School system prior to graduating from Prentiss Institute.  After graduating from Prentiss Institute, she attended Jackson State College, prior to working a number of years as a daycare teacher, factory worker, and as a cafeteria worker at Prentiss High School.

Mrs. Bridges married the late Pastor Author Ray Bridges of Rose Hill in 1956, and to this union six children were born.

Mrs. Bridges’ survivors include six children Sandra B. Earnest of Laurel, Antola (Eric) Thompson of Harvey, LA, Rev. Leander (Esther) Bridges, Lorenzo (Shirley) Bridges, both of Ellisville, Corniel (Deidre) Bridges of Laurel, and Rev. Author Ray (Angela) Bridges of Clinton; seven sisters, Clarisa Grizzette, Ida M. Burnett, both Elgin, IL Ella Hayes, Carolyn Martin, Erma Barnes, all of Silver Creek, and Mary LeBlanc of Natchez; one brother Javous (Charlesetts)Blanchard of Jackson; twenty six grandchildren; twenty five great grandchildren; and a number of other relatives and friends.