Elma Bridges

Elma Lois Bridges will always be remembered for her life's work and role as a dedicated, profound educator, and elementary school principal.
She loved people, but shaping children's minds in exploring and thinking more critically, will always be the mantle she wore.
Ms. Bridges was born on August 13, 1935, to the late Elmer and Emma Zella Cook-Bridges, in Vesey, Texas. She passed away in Hobbs on December 28, 2015. Her family moved to Hobbs where she completed her formal education, graduating with a high school diploma in 1952, from Booker T. Washington School. She received her bachelor's degree from Texas College in Tyler, Texas, followed by a Master's Degree from the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Okla.
Elma Lois gave 40 years of service in the Hobbs Public School District, working from 1957 to 1998. She taught an uncountable number of children throughout the years from fourth to sixth grade. She retired after four decades with an accomplished career as a Teacher/Principal. She saw countless changes, over the span of her teaching profession, which was punctuated by periods of racial segregation and integration in public education. Her narrative was highlighted in The Hobbs News-Sun (the city's newspaper) several years ago.
During her lifetime, she lived to receive several, distinguished awards. Among them included, the Exceptional Educator's Award in 1998 from the Hobbs Chamber of Commerce; Outstanding Woman of Lea County in 1990; the NAACP Educator of the Year Award in 1991; the Trail Blazer Award from the NAACP in 1997; and in 1993, she was presented the Woman of the Year Award for the MLK Junior Achievement by the Lovely Ladies Federated & Arts Club. But it was her inspirational teaching which led to her highest accolade - a national recognition for her grueling labor on the Title I government program for the educationally under-privileged students bestowed by the U.S. Senate, Secretary of State, the Judicial System and the U.S. Department of Education.
Passionate about life, Elma Lois served in several well-known organizations, giving time, talent and capital. She was especially fond of the NAACP and the Phi Delta Kappa.
The much-loved teacher, also touched the lives of her church family at the Ebenezer Baptist Church where she had served as a member since moving to Hobbs as a child. She was faithful, steadfast and loyal, serving under the late Rev. F.W. Wells, the Rev. Michael Smith and her current pastor, the Rev. J.J. Joiner. She was stalwart in her duties as a musician, youth director and church treasurer.
The death of Elma Lois Bridges will be deeply felt by the community she lived in, the uncountable students she taught, and the myriad of educators and leaders she worked with. But her family will miss her the most. Left to mourn her home going are a sister and brother-in-law, Donnetta M. Francis and Alvin Francis of California; two aunts, Bernice Sims of Palmdale, Calif., and Geneva Brown of Calle El Sinore, Calif.; six nephews, Greg Vernoy of St. Charles, W. Va. , Douglas Bridges of Midland, TX., Stephen Bridges of Washington, D.C., Terrence Bridges (Carol) of Ashburn, Va., Christopher Snafbar (Robyn) of Washington, Mo., and William "Bill" Bridges (Lexanne) ; three nieces, Vernator White (Reginald) of DeSoto, Texas; Dyandra Kimbro (Henri) of Fayetteville, Ga., and Donnetta Bridges of Ellisville, Mo.; her best friend and confidante, Lemma White of Hobbs; two close friends, Mrs. Faye Dilworth and Mrs. Annie Wimbish, both of Hobbs; 12 great nieces and nephews; 13 great-great nieces and nephews; and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends.
Preceding her in death are her parents, Elmer and Emma Bridges; a sister-in-law, Shirley K. Bridges; and three brothers, James E. Bridges, Jimmy J. Bridges, and William (Bill) C. Bridges.

Visitation

Chapel of Hope
3321 N. Dal Paso
Hobbs, NM  88240
Thursday, January 7, 2016
12:00 - 5:00 pm

Chapel of Hope
3321 N. Dal Paso
Hobbs, NM  88240
Friday, January 8, 2016
8:00 am - 7:00 pm

Service

Funeral Service

Ebenezer Baptist Church
1222 E. Midwest St.
Hobbs, NM  88240
Saturday, January 9, 2016
1:00 pm

Cemetery

Prairie Haven Cemetery
2201 E. Stanolind
Hobbs, NM  88240