Larry Bridges

Larry Bridges
Jan. 10, 1954 – Feb. 17, 2021
Funeral services for the first African Americxan to serve as a fire chief in Walthall County, Larry Quinn Bridges, 67, were Feb. 26, 2021, at Southwest Events Center with Pastor Terry Thomas officiating. He died Feb. 17, 2021.
Bridges was born Jan. 10, 1954, son of the late Melvin Quinn and Willie Mae Green Bridges.
In 1972, he graduated from Tylertown High School and later attended Southwest Community College in August of that year. Shortly afterward, he moved to New Orleans, Louisiana and was employed at the Louisiana Race Track Commission. Bridges realized that he did not prefer the city life and moved back to Tylertown. In the same year, on Christmas Eve, he married Margie Beatrice Magee. This union was blessed with two daughters, Amy and Kelly and one son, Jeremy.
After moving back, he worked as a carpenter building houses for J. W. Powe and Leo Alexander. Later in life, he was hired at Transcontinental Pipeline Co. now known as William Gas Pipeline Co. as a technical operator. Bridges was responsible for pumping gas all around the world. He worked 25 years and later retired.
He was a member of Oak Grove United Methodist Church, serving as lay speaker, financing chairperson, PPR chair, delegate for the United Methodist Conference, Trustee, Sunday School teacher and a board member throughout his life. He was also on the board for the Brookhaven District for the United Methodist Church in Brookhaven.
He made history in Walthall County by establishing the Oak Grove/St. Paul Fire Dept. and being the first African American fire chief in Walthall County. Other membership roles included: Walthall County Association for Progress, member of the NAACP, member of Dry Creek Hunting Club, and a member of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitor’s Assn. He also helped coach at Walthall Dixie Youth League for his grandchildren. He also received the Humanitarian Award in 2012.
Bridges enjoyed spending his retirement years on his farm, Green Acres, with intentions of benefiting his family in years to come. Family meant everything to him. He spent time gardening, planting fruits and vegetables, tending to his livestock such as cows, chickens, fish, and horses. He also planted timber, trained horses alongside his son, Jeremy and competed in horse shows in Mississippi and Tennessee.
Survivors are his wife of 49 years, Margie Bridges of Tylertown; his children, Amy Jefferson (Suester Jefferson), Kelly Magee (Shaun Magee) and Jeremy Bridges all of Tylertown; grandchildren, Shannia Dozier (Thomas Dozier), Shanice Myers, Caden Magee and Dorian Jefferson and his great grandchildren, Titus Dozier, Holly Dozier and Harmony Dozier; sisters, Willie Bell Magee of Pontiac, MI, Ella Mae Taylor (Delois Taylor) of New Orleans, Sandra Bridges of New Orleans, Sharon Bridges of Pontiac, MI, and Janette Quinn of Detroit, MI; Godson, Gregory W. Johnson, III, Rusty Martin and Jerrell Brim; best friend, Clennel Brown
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Melvin Quinn, Jr. and L. C. (C-Man) Bridges; four sisters, Evelyn Major, Obzine Smith (Julious Smith), Delois Conerly, and Alice Quinn.
Burial was at Oak Grove UMC Church Cemetery in Tylertown.
Craft-Ginn Funeral Chapel was in charge of the arrangements.