Funeral for SMSgt (Retired) Jessie Bridges, Jr. will be 8:00 A.M. Friday, March 3, 2023 at Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel.

Burial with full military honors will be in Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin.

The service may be viewed by following the livestream link at www.beckerfuneal.com or by visiting the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Facebook page.

SMSgt (Retired) Jessie Bridges Jr., 91, Lawton, Oklahoma peacefully departed this life to be with the Lord
on Saturday, February 25, 2023. He was born on April 3, 1931, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Jesse and
Hulda Bridges. Jessie grew up in Hattiesburg. He enlisted into the Air Force in 1949. He served
faithfully for 24 years and retired in 1973. He was stationed in various areas around the world. He was
a devoted and cherished husband of 46 years. He was a father of eight wonderful children and
grandfather of 13, great grandfather of 11 and great great grandfather of 1.

Jessie spent most of the first half of his life serving in the Air Force. While he was in the military, he was
stationed at various places performing various jobs while taking various classes to further his education
in the United States and abroad, and had 4 children with his then wife Mary Ester Bridges. They later
divorced. The remainder of his life included his final move from Roi-et, Thailand to Lawton, OK, in 1981.
He began working with the military with varying jobs and opportunities that presented to honorably
discharged retirees at the nearby base, Ft. Sill. It was not long after their move to Lawton that he and
his second wife, Thongbor Bridges, became avid gardeners. With Thongbor, they had four children. He They grew all types of vegetables, and they
spent many hours tending to those gardens together. While that was a huge hobby of theirs, they were
raising their children while he was working full-time, and we all were getting acclimated to our new
lives. We spent a lot of time playing and watching sports too. Jessie was a huge fan of all sports and
spent time teaching us about the different sports we would watch together as a family on television. He
was so animated when watching sports and loved sharing that with us.
Besides being a devoted husband and family man, Jessie was a problem solver where hard work was his
primary tool. He was not only intelligent, but he was also sharp, quick witted and wise all the way until
the very end of his life. He was always optimistic and encouraging and gave the best advice. He
respected people and was grateful to call individuals from all walks of life his friends. He was
Thongbor's primary caregiver until she passed away in June 2020.

Survivors include:
One Brother, Alfred Bridges and his wife Fredricka of Houston Texas

8 children,

daughter, Liesa Nicholson and her husband, Richard Sr. of Hattiesburg, Mississippi;
daughter, Angelia Bridges of Norcross, Georgia;
son, Jesse Bridges III and his wife Lalee of Woodstock, Georgia;
son, Derek Bridges and his wife Vickie of Snellville, Georgia;
son, Suwat Siriwet and his wife, Dianne of Mexia, Texas; son,
son, Sura Siriwet and wife, Irma of Corpus Christi, Texas;
daughter, Laddavan Spencer and her husband, Sidney of Elgin, Texas;
daughter, Mallivan Olinger and her husband, Chad of Little Elm, Texas;

16 grandchildren,

Andre Parker of Lilburn, Georgia;
O'Shae Bridges of Boston, Massachusetts;
Richard Nicholson of Hattiesburg, Mississippi;
DeAngelo Nicholoson of Hattiesburg Missisppi;
Antwion Nicholson of Hattiesburg, Mississippi,
Ashanti Nicholson of Oxford, Mississippi;
Joseph Siriwet of Norfolk, Virginia;
Matthew Siriwet of Corpus Christi, Texas;
Kaylin Pelican and Nathan Spencer both of Elgin, Texas;
Chase and Reese Olinger both of Little Elm, Texas;
Jesse Bridges IV, of Woodstock, Georgia;
Christopher and Cory Bridges of Snellville, Georgia
Jordan Owen of Snellville, Georgia

11 great grandchildren,
Xavier Parker; Iyanna Parker; Airrielle Parker; Corbin Pelican; Romello Nicholson, DeAngelo Nicholson,Jr.; Davis Nicholson, Micah Nicholson; Davis Nicholson; Levitus Nicholson; and Psalms Nicholson.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma at www.ccswok.com .