Leola Emma J. Bridges

Leola Emma Jean Bridges was born in Raleigh, NC on September 6, 1943. Her parents were the late Julius Bridges, a World War II veteran, and the late America Leach Bridges. In her early years, family, church, school and friends filled her life. At an early age, she joined Fayetteville Street Baptist Church. She attended Sunday School and church services there with her grandmother.For the first eight years of schooling, Leola attended Saint Monica Catholic School. Reading was one of her favorite pastimes. She and her friends also enjoyed making clothes for their dolls and walking to Chavis Park for swimming during the summer breaks. She was graduated from J.W. Ligon High School in 1961 and entered Raleigh Business College. After completing the program, she left soon thereafter to settle in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. She lived in northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. After several years, she moved to Maryland and bought her own home.Leola first worked in federal government service. Afterward, she  was employed for over 30 years at Bell South Telephone Company. She began as a switchboard operator and worked her way up to second level management. At Bell, she met the love of her life, Thomas Boyd, a telecommunications engineer. They began a life together that lasted 34 years until her death. Upon the breakup of Ma Bell into Baby Bells, she retired from Bell South and began a second career at USA Today.  After seven years, she retired again, only to return to work again at Chevy Chase Bank. Three years later, she entered into her third and final retirement.Leola practiced good citizenship by giving service to others and generously of herself and her resources. She loved her family and friends and was always there if she was needed, She and Tommy traveled to various places on vacation and to attend family reunions and other functions. On gameday, they excitedly cheered for their favorite team, the Washington Redskins.In addition to Tommy, Leola is survived by a host of cousins who reside in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, New York and California. She also has many friends, neighbors and classmates who will remember a life well lived and will mourn her passing on January 20, 2016.The Family