percy lee bridges
1940-2003
Life Story
Born in the rural landscape of Lena, Scott County, Mississippi, on March 25, 1940, Percy Lee Bridges was the son of James and Kattie Mae Collier Bridges. Though born in Scott County, Percy spent his formative years in the heart of Newton County, Mississippi, growing up within a large, industrious family.
Early Life in Newton County
By 1950, ten-year-old Percy was living in a bustling household on a farm located off Old Highway 80, between the communities of Hazel and Lawrence. He was the fourth of seven children listed in the home at the time, surrounded by his brothers—Lewis, Benjamin, James Jr., Phill, and Henry—and his younger sister, Sudie Mae.
Life on the Bridges farm was defined by both education and labor. While Percy was enrolled as a student in elementary school, the family’s residence on a farm suggests a childhood intimately connected to the land and the seasonal rhythms of Mississippi agriculture.
The Great Migration and Professional Life
As Percy entered young adulthood, he followed a path familiar to many Mississippians of his generation: the Great Migration. In October 1955, at the age of 15, he applied for his Social Security number in Mississippi, but he eventually sought opportunities in the Midwest.
Percy established a long-term life in Illinois, residing in both Chicago and Rockford. Records indicate he maintained a home on South Parnell Avenue in Chicago for nearly two decades, from 1990 through 2008, while also spending time in Rockford on Iroquois Avenue. Despite his move north, Percy remained deeply tethered to his roots. Between 1998 and 2011, records show he maintained a second residence back in Lawrence, Mississippi, on Highway 80—just a short distance from where he had grown up as a boy.
Final Return
Percy Lee Bridges passed away on June 12, 2003, at the age of 63. His life came full circle when he was returned to the red clay hills of Newton County for his final rest. He is buried at the Union Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery in Lawrence, Mississippi, resting in the community that first shaped him.
Key Genealogical Facts
| Attribute | Detail |
| Full Name | Percy Lee Bridges |
| Birth | March 25, 1940 (Lena, Scott County, MS) |
| Death | June 12, 2003 |
| Parents | James Bridges and Kattie Mae Collier |
| Primary Residences | Newton County, MS; Chicago, IL; Rockford, IL |
| Final Resting Place | Union Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery, Lawrence, MS |
Resting Place
Union Chapel United Methodist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
1940-2003
Sources
- 1950 Federal Census
- U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
- U.S., Index to Public Records, 1994-2019
- Scott County Times, James Bridges Obituary, Wed, Aug 27, 1997 ·Page 6
- Sun Herald, Rev. Lewis Bridges Obituary, Tue, Feb 11, 1992 ·Page 2
- U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
- U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
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