Obituary of Jesse Bridges

His Life Story Jesse’s story starts on March 3, 1942, the oldest child to the late Dora Esther Ransom Bridges and late Kacellious Bridges. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Except for 4½ years of his childhood spent on a farm in Otisco, Indiana with his paternal grandmother, the late Lucy Burrell Payne Dixon, he grew up in New Orleans where he was a member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church and later embraced the Baha’i faith. Jesse was an extraordinary communicator – both verbally and written - that manifested early in life as evidenced when he was managing editor of the Carter G. Woodson Junior High School’s newspaper, “Tiger,” and the newspaper was awarded the Certificate of Honor by the National Tuberculosis Association and Columbia School Press Association for outstanding excellence and achievement. In 1960, he graduated from Booker T. Washington Senior High School where he excelled at track and field, and dramatic speaking. Jesse performed in many high school dramas and was frequently called upon to recite the William Ernest Henley poem, “Invictus”. He served in the U.S. Air Force Combat Air Police (aka AF Security Forces) and was honorably discharged in 1963. Jesse earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Marketing from Southern University and A & M College in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1978. In 1980, Jesse met the love of his life, Cynthia Anell Joseph, in Chicago, Illinois. They were united in marriage on April 10, 1982, and shared more than 39 years in many locations. He took extreme pride in Cynthia’s career – he was the wind beneath her wings and the muscle that provided strength to their union. Jesse was a foodie and renowned for his cooking skills. He was passionate about preparing and sharing decadent meals with family and friends, often transporting his tools of the trade and seasonings to their homes. Jesse was a voracious reader and eagerly shared his extensive knowledge about holistic medicine and natural health and healing remedies with anyone, encouraging them to study the subject matter and not just rely on his word. Jesse was a professional and shrewd businessman. He had a strong work ethic, which began at the early age of thirteen as an orderly at the Charity hospital in New Orleans to supplement the family’s income. Jesse funded his higher education by driving Morrison and White Fleet taxicabs. His professional career commenced as manager of a Katz Drug store and then spanned a wide array of sales environments and industries for Fortune 500 companies, including Hershey Foods, Polaroid, and Bendix Corporations, John Deere Company, Diversey Wyandotte Corporation, and Speed Queen Company. Jesse’s sales territories encompassed up to 35 states while residing in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. His work culminated with public service as Hospitality Training Director at the University of New Orleans Metropolitan College, Administrator of the Taxicab Bureau for the City of New Orleans, and special education teacher for Jefferson Parish Public School System. Jesse received numerous honors, most notably was international acclaim for the City of New Orleans’ Jazzy Cabby Program. He received commendations for the industry reforms implemented at and through the City’s Taxicab Bureau because he believed continuing education, fair and uniform enforcement, and stakeholder accountability was essential to improving the “For-Hire” industry’s professionalism and the City’s image. Jesse was a City of New Orleans Reserve Civil Service Deputy and was involved in various community organizations. Loved ones that cleared the path for Jesse are his parents Dora Esther Ransom Bridges and Kacellious (Mildred) Bridges; maternal grandparents Martha England Ransom and Peter Samuel Ransom; paternal grandparents Lucy Burrell Payne Dixon and Fress Bridges; niece Verbena Jean Ramsey; in-laws John W. and Cecile Slaughter Joseph, close friends Vinson Crawford, Clarence Reese, and others that departed before him. Loved ones that will miss him until they meet him again include his devoted wife Cynthia; four siblings, Arnetta Jean Bridges Ramsey, Dwight Peter Bridges, Andrea Ransom Canaan (Joann Johnson), and Kacell Emile Bridges (Iyad) Hmaidan; two nieces, Francesca Anita Bridges, Leslie Ebonne Canaan, one great niece, Nichole Jean Ramsey, one nephew, Mason Anthony Teague, one great-great nephew, KaTai Keonie Starks, and many cousins. In addition to the Bridges’ family, he is also survived by four sister-in-laws, Brenda (Jerone) Bullard, Sheila (Gerard) Jolivette, Sonya (Edmond) Helaire, Justina (Darwan) Lazard; three brother-in-laws, John (Keita) Joseph, Juan (Janya) Joseph, Brent (Shirley) Joseph; numerous Joseph family nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews, and a host of friends. Jesse Wilbert Bridges was a wonderful man, will be missed, and cherished. He was an amazing husband, brother, and friend like no other. Jesse had a commanding presence and voice, was sensitive, loyal, kind-hearted, and a giving person. He was also sharp-witted, outrageously humorous, and you could recognize his hearty laugh anywhere. He was passionate about life, love of family and friends, adventure, education, and social justice. Jesse had a magnetic personality and will forever live on in the hearts and minds of everyone he interacted with. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you help continue his kindness and compassion by donating in Jesse Bridges’ name to the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org or the Disabled American Veterans Charity (DAV) at www.dav.org. Acknowledgement The family of Jesse Bridges would like to acknowledge every prayer, kind gesture, and heartfelt outpouring of love. We ask for your continued prayers and support. Your expressions of kindness will forever remain in our hearts. Attendees are required to wear masks and adhere to proper social distancing protocols. Burial arrangements provided by Merit Memorial Funeral & Cremation Care, Farmers Branch, Texas, and the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Memorial service hosted by Jeter & Son Funeral Home, Dallas, Texas. The Memorial Service will be live-streamed on the Jeter and Son Facebook page.