Bridges Family Reunion

Born September 23, 1924. He was the tenth offspring of Senora Thompson Bridges and Joe Bridges.

Pon,. Jr as he was affectionately called, grew up in a farming family and developed a keen interest in argiculture. His education started in Ear, North Carolina. The next stop was the Boiling Springs area at the Gaston Bethel School. When the family moved to the Washington area, he attended Washington High School. His education was interrupted in 1944 when he was called to the United States Navy. He returned to graduate fromWashington High School in 1947.

He entered A & T State University in Greensboror, North Carlina, when he studied for three years. While in college he met and married Lottie Louise Byers. Into this union two choldren were born:

                                Pondrienna               and                Dwight

Pon relocated to Gaffney, South Carolina, after college where he was to raise his family. His career itnessed two opportunities to be the first of his race to hold positions. He was the first black to operate a Shell service station in the city. He later took on a major challenge becoming one of two blacks joining the Gaffney Police Department, making history for the city. He gave years of quality service to the department and the community while earning respect as a no-nonsense policeman who cared about the people he served. Pon served on thepolice force until his death in 1962.

With his quiet but outgoing personality, Pon interacted easily with everyone he met and was respected highly by both blacks and whites throughout the community. Helived by the motto: "May the work I've done speak for me." His wife and chldren will always love him and cherish his memory and legacy.