Kathleen "Kay" Rene Bridges
August 2, 1946 – December 5, 2022
Kathleen (Kay) Rene Bridges was born in Albany, Georgia on August 2, 1946. From the very beginning, it was obvious that Kay would have close friends and plenty of them. She was born at the same time as her lifelong best friend Jan. With their mothers sharing a hospital room when they were born, these two and a few other friends would even share a wedding dress a few years down the road. I guess you could call them the sisterhood of the traveling wedding dress, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Kay was the oldest of three born to Ruth Carson Bridges and Virgil Raymond Bridges. Deborah Bridges Harrell and Samuel Rutt Bridges rounded out the family. From the stories Kay told, she was a Mama’s girl, but she also loved her father and his boat dearly. As the oldest, she was always the prepared, organized, responsible one, but Debbie would do all she could to help Kay have a little more fun even if that crossed a few lines. They both enjoyed giving their little brother Rutt a hard time.
One of Kay’s favorite childhood stories involved “Oh Henry.” Henry was a rooster and the prized possession of her grandfather. “Oh Henry” pecked and tried to spur Kay every time she collected eggs for a long time. Finally, he pecked Kay one too many times so this wasn’t a spur of the moment decision. Kay had the last peck wringing “Oh Henry’s” neck and apparently inventing the line “eat more chicken” much to the chagrin of her grandfather. “Oh Henry” was loaned out to other farms so their hens would lay eggs. A number of them had a funeral for the rooster and the pastor gave Kay disapproving looks because he was one of the folks who took “Oh Henry” on loan. Kay’s stories grew bigger and funnier with time and even provided a way to gauge the progress of her Alzheimer’s.
After graduating High School, Kay went to Auburn University where she swam competitively, served in Student Government, and was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She would eventually meet and marry Tommy Martin. Together they would have two amazing children. Patrick would be the oldest followed by Joy, 6 ½ years later. Kay always provided a welcoming place, so their home was the childhood hangout. That included her nephew, Scott Harrell, living with them for a season. Kay also cared for her father, who had Alzheimer’s, until he went into the VA Hospital. Hospitality came naturally to Kay with a servant’s heart, outgoing nature, and love for people. As the place for all the kids, both Pat and Joy’s friends knew Kay well. She was the team mom for Pat’s wrestling team and was also Joy’s Girls Scout troop leader. When Joy decided to compete in clogging, Kay joined in and took lessons herself. She never missed a game or competition for either of her kids and she provided steadfast love and care for her children as a homemaker. Once her children went to college, she would serve more students than you could count working at the Baptist Student Union on the campus of the University of Florida. She joyfully cared for many students during those days. Later in life, Kay and Tommy parted ways.
Kay went back to school and then began working as a paralegal for the Law Office of Fredrick C. Morello, and she continued working there until she retired at age 70. Thanks to the generosity of their brother, Kay and Deb lived on the ocean in Ormond Beach right beside each other during that season of life. They entertained out of town friends and relatives regularly as they played Bridge and showed everyone how to have fun in the Florida sun. Kay would frequently be seen walking the beach feeding the seagulls or boogie boarding on the waves. Treating everyone like family and with a special gift to love others, Kay created an oasis of kindness equipped with rooms for children of all ages and a kitchen always stocked for unexpected guests.
While living on the beach, Kay bought a Z-3 BMW “The Beamer.” I’ve never seen a grandmother drive that fast. Top down, burning rubber on A-1-A, she would reach the speed “limit/suggestion” within seconds after each light turned green smiling the entire time. Perhaps that’s why she wanted to have friends in the legal system. The life of the party—you sure better have your walking shoes on if you went to Disney with her. Ready to go, go, go, there wasn’t a ride she wouldn’t ride, even until a few years ago. Every photo showed her smiling wide and hands held high.
Kay was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s shortly after her sister Deborah passed away from the same dreadful disease that also took their father. Kay had helped care for them, visiting them both on almost a daily basis doing whatever was needed. Now it was her turn to be cared for. After Kay’s diagnosis, she lived the snowbird life primarily living with Pat in Florida during the winters and with Joy in Ohio during the summers. Eventually, Kay moved to Ohio to live with Joy permanently. In her last years, she seemed to be happiest when dancing with her granddaughter Kali, watching America’s Funniest Videos with her grandson Samuel, or attending sporting events with daughter Joy and granddaughter Rachel. She frequently would request to go home. After a few questions, you would realize that she wanted to see her father and mother again. The more her short term memory faded, the more she longed to be with her parents.
On the morning of December 5, 2022 with her daughter by her side, Kay took one final ride passing from this life into the next. I’m sure she arrived smiling wide with hands held high. She was finally where she longed to be—her home for eternity. I can hear her laughing and telling the story of “Oh, Henry” to family and friends alike. And if there are cars in heaven, then I’m confident her car is bright blue, top down, and the fastest one around.
Kay was preceded in death by her mom and dad, sister Deborah, granddaughter Taylor, and nephew Cody. Kay leaves behind her son Pat Martin (wife Jennifer) of Fleming Island, Florida; her daughter Joy White (husband Thomas), of Cedarville, Ohio; her brother Rutt (wife Annie) of Denver, Colorado; grandchildren David Martin, Brooke (husband Lang) Staubus, Dalton Roberts, Rachel White, Samuel White, & Kali Martin; great grand children Aria Martin and Lyla Martin; nephews Scott Harrell, & Jeff (wife AnnMarie) Bridges; and many other cousins and friends.