Patricia “Pat” Smith Bridges, age 72, of the Deep River Community, died Thursday, September 10, 2015 at Central Carolina Hospital with her family by her side.

She was a 1960 graduate of Deep River High School and a graduate of Sanford Business College.  Her first job was working for her father, Ed Smith, at the Progressive Stores followed by Southern National Bank and First Federal Savings and Loan.  After her retirement from banking, Pat built and directed North Lee Child Development Center in the Deep River Community.  A legion of children, now grown, fondly remember “Ms. Pat”.  Pat, along with many others, was heavily involved in the hugely popular Deep River Fourth of July Celebration held many years ago behind the old Deep River High School.

As a member of Flat Springs Baptist Church, Pat and her late sister Gail Bridges, were instrumental in the formation of the Senior Adult Ministry (SAM).  Pat’s work in the church included; former Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) Director and former Sunday School teacher. Currently Pat served as Assistant Treasurer of the church and co-director of Vacation Bible School.

She was born in Lee County on September 22, 1942 to the late Albert Edward Smith and Nettie Reid Parrish Smith.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Gail Smith Bridges.  She is survived by her husband Johnny Foster Bridges; son James Edward “Jeb” Bridges of Wilmington; daughters Abby Bridges Walker and husband Fedd and Melanie Bridges Webster; grandchildren Grace and Mollie Walker and Addison and Allie Webster; brother Edward Smith and wife Carol Culberson Smith all of Deep River; brothers-in-law Tommy Frazier Bridges of Deep River and Randy Bridges of Cary; sister-in-law Doris Griffin Bridges of Sanford; many cousins and one aunt, Almeta Parrish McNeill, of the Barbecue Community in Harnett County; nieces and nephews Stephanie Bridges of Asheboro, Anna Bridges Phillips and husband Charles of Deep River, Beth Bridges Cooper and husband Scott; Grant Smith and wife Jessica, Lauren Smith Mitchell and husband Dustin, Hayley Smith Davis, Meghan Bridges Chewning and husband Steven, and Whitman Bridges.

The funeral service will be held Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Flat Springs Baptist Church in the Deep River Community with Dr. Gary McCollough officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery, after which the family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall.

Memorials may be made to Flat Springs Baptist Church, SAM ministry, 4148 Deep River Road, Sanford, NC 27330.

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