Here is some information on this family from Tina Wheeler Barnes:
From: Tina Sanders [tsanders77573@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2003
Subject: R.L. Bridges family
Hello,
I found the information of the Bridges/Bridger and Bodine families on your website. R.L. Bridges is my great grandfather. His son Odis Arlington is my grandfather. I noticed that you had quite a few gaps in the information concerning the R.L. Bridges and Almina Mull family, so I thought I would fill you in, if you are interested. I've attached a family history file of the R.L. Bridges/Allie Mull family. Please feel free to write back with any questions. If I've sent this info already, forgive me. I'm going through a pile of family history emails this weekend.
Sincerely,
Tina Wheeler Sanders
Descendants of R.L. (Robert Lee) Bridges
Generation No. 1
1. R.L. (ROBERT LEE)3 BRIDGES (GEORGE GRANBERRY2 BRIDGES/BRIDGER, GRANBERRY1 BRIDGER) was born December 29, 1877 in San Augustine County, Texas, 1876 from V. Martin, and died March 27, 1945 in Nacogdoches, TX. He married ALMINA (ALLIE) ELIZABETH MULL1 Bet. December 25, 1901 - 1902 in Pro. Nacogdoches, TX2, daughter of REV. MULL and REBECCA DEMPSEY. She was born May 29, 1882 in Rome, Georgia (Floyd Co.), info from V. Martin 1883, I have death certificate, and died December 28, 1967 in Nacogdoches.
Notes for R.L. (ROBERT LEE) BRIDGES: My father was named after this grandfather. R.L. moved to Grigsby in the 1920s and carried the mail for Grigsby. The house that had the well at the edge of the front porch is where Verleen was born.
Notes from Jim Bodine, "Conflicting info about his birth, one source says 1876 and the other 1878. He was a member of the Woodsmen of the World Organization. According to the 1910 Census of Shelby Co., he and his wife "Allie" had been married 6 years and had a family of three girls."
More About R.L. (ROBERT LEE) BRIDGES: Burial: Oak Grove Cemetary, Nacogdoches
Notes for ALMINA (ALLIE) ELIZABETH MULL: Obituary reads,
FUNERAL FOR MRS. BRIDGES FRIDAY AT 3:00
Funeral services for Mrs. Allie Elizabeth Bridges, 85, of Martinsville will be held Friday at 3:00 p.m. in the Oakley-Metcalf Chapel with interment in the Oak Grove Cemetery. Officiating will be the Rev. Harold Chadwick of Center, Baptist minister, and the Rev. Arthur Freeze of Lufkin, Assembly of God minister.
Mrs. Bridges died Thursday morning at 2:25 o'clock in City Memorial Hospital. Born May 29, 1882, in Rome, Ga., Mrs. Bridges was the daughter of Allen and Rebecca Dempsey Mull. She lived for many years in Shelby County and for 22 years in Nacogdoches County. She was a member of the Baptist Church.
Survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Jewell Martin of Martinsville and Mrs. Neva Hopkins of Center; a son, V.D. Bridges, Sr. of Vidor; a sister, Mrs. Tena Bounds of Evadale; a brother, Clarence Mull of Lufkin; 23 grandchildren; 49 great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild. Services will be directed by Oakley-Metcalf Funeral Home.
ore About ALMINA (ALLIE) ELIZABETH MULL: Burial: Oak Grove Cemetary, Nacogdoches
Children of R.L. BRIDGES and ALMINA MULL are:
2. i. JESSIE LEE4 BRIDGES, b. October 14, 1903, Prob. Shelby Co., TX; d. June 15, 1945, Norton Clinic, Nacogdoches, Texas.
3. ii. NEVA CORNELIA BRIDGES, b. August 06, 1905, Shelby Co., TX; d. February 06, 1989, Center, TX.
iii. TENNIE BRIDGES, b. Bet. August 01, 1907 - 1908, Shelby Co, TX; d. December 25, 1931, Shelby Co., TX; m. LEE ARVIN HINTON, April 17, 1926, Shelby Co., TX.
Jim Bodine had the death date as 1934.
More About TENNIE BRIDGES: Burial: December 26, 1931, Mull Cemetary, Shelby Co., TX
4. iv. VOORHEES DEGRAW BRIDGES, b. March 11, 1910, Shelby Co., TX.
5. v. LESSIE ODETT BRIDGES, b. August 17, 1912, Shelby Co., TX; d. August 01, 1987, Center, TX.
Generation No. 2
2. JESSIE LEE4 BRIDGES (R.L. (ROBERT LEE)3, GEORGE GRANBERRY2 BRIDGES/BRIDGER, GRANBERRY1 BRIDGER) was born October 14, 1903 in Prob. Shelby Co., TX, and died June 15, 1945 in Norton Clinic, Nacogdoches, Texas. She married ODIS ARLINGTON WHEELER August 14, 1922 in Pro. Shelby Co., TX3, son of NAT WHEELER and JAMES DAVIS. He was born October 31, 1902, and died February 25, 1963 in Vidor, Texas.
Notes for JESSIE LEE BRIDGES: Obituary reads,
FUNERAL SERVICES HELD SATURDAY FOR MRS. J.L. WHEELER
Funeral services for Mrs. Jessie Lee Wheeler were held Saturday afternoon, June 16, at 3:30 at Hoya Hill Baptist church, with Rev. J.W. Hollis and Rev. M.L. Boland officiating. Interment was in Oak Grove cemetery.
Mrs. Wheeler died at the Norton Clinic Friday morning, June 15, at seven o'clock after an illness of one week. She was born in Shelby County October 14, 1902, was 42 years of age at the time of her death. She was married in 1922 to O.A. Wheeler, Sr. in Shelby county. Mrs. Wheeler was a member of the Baptist church since she was 14 years-old.
Survivors include her husband, O.A. Wheeler, Sr. of Nacogdoches; two daughters Merline and Verline of Nacogdoches; six sons, Gilbert, R.W., Waylon, Otis, Cloran and Raymond Earl all of Nacogdoches; her mother Mrs. R.L. Bridges of Nacogdoches; two sisters, mrs. leva Hopkins of Center, Mrs. Lessie Martin of Martisville; one brother V.D. Bridges of Beaumont. Pallbearers were Walter Garner, J.T. Maynard, Vernis Fulmer, Honor Crawford, John Brantley and Ed Hoya. All funeral arrangements were under direction of Oakley-Metcalf Funeral Home.
P>More About JESSIE LEE BRIDGES: Burial: June 16, 1945, Oak Grove Cemetary, Nacogdoches, Texas
More About ODIS ARLINGTON WHEELER: Burial: Nacogdoches, Texas
Occupation: Sharecropper, bus driver, farmer, mail carrier
Marriage Notes for JESSIE BRIDGES and ODIS WHEELER: Marriage site on Internet Rootsweb says that marriage date is Aug. 16, 1922. Dana Johnson found an Internet source which lists the date as Oct. 4, 1944. Interesting.
Children of JESSIE BRIDGES and ODIS WHEELER are:
i. GERALDINE5 WHEELER, b. November 27, 1923; d. November 27, 1923.
More About GERALDINE WHEELER: Burial: White Rock Cemetary
6. ii. OPAL MURLINE WHEELER, b. July 06, 1925, Grigsby, Texas.
7. iii. GILBERT LEON WHEELER, b. December 24, 1927, Nacogdoches; d. July 21, 2001, Nacogdoches, TX.
8. iv. ROBERT WILLIAM (R.W.) WHEELER, b. February 04, 1929, Center (Grigsby), TX; d. February 22, 1995, St. Lukes Hospital, Houston, TX.
9. v. WAYLON DAUREESE WHEELER, b. March 07, 1931, Swift, Texas; d. November 04, 1993, Nacogdoches, Texas.
10. vi. ODIS ROYCE WHEELER, b. October 24, 1933, Martinsville, Texas.
11. vii. CLORAN WAYNE WHEELER, b. March 14, 1936, Grigsby-Martinsville.
12. viii. JESSIE VERLEEN WHEELER, b. October 17, 1938, Grigsby, Texas.
13. ix. RAYMOND EARL WHEELER, b. January 06, 1944, Nacogdoches, Texas.
3. NEVA CORNELIA4 BRIDGES (R.L. (ROBERT LEE)3, GEORGE GRANBERRY2 BRIDGES/BRIDGER, GRANBERRY1 BRIDGER) was born August 06, 1905 in Shelby Co., TX, and died February 06, 1989 in Center, TX. She married CLYDE J. HOPKINS November 28, 1924 in Shelby Co., TX. He was born April 27, 1902 in TX, and died February 24, 1962.
More About NEVA CORNELIA BRIDGES: Burial: White Rock Cemetary, Shelby Co., TX
Marriage Notes for NEVA BRIDGES and CLYDE HOPKINS: Internet source Rootsweb lists marriage date as September 28, 1924 and husband's names as J.C. Hopkins.
Children of NEVA BRIDGES and CLYDE HOPKINS are:
i. WILLIAM SWINNON5 HOPKINS, b. February 17, 1926; d. November 26, 1945, Germany (army).
Notes for WILLIAM SWINNON HOPKINS: Tank ran off bridge and he was killed.
More About WILLIAM SWINNON HOPKINS: Burial: Shelby Co., TX?
14. ii. WILMA GWINNON HOPKINS, b. February 17, 1926, Shelby Co., TX; d. November 28, 1996.
15. iii. JAMES GRANVEL HOPKINS, b. April 06, 1927.
iv. BETH LAFAWN HOPKINS, b. Bet. January 22 - 27, 1929, Shelby Co., TX; m. (1) JOHN COLLUM, February 1945, Shelby Co., TX; m. (2) JUNIOUS GRADY SPURLOCK, May 10, 1952.
16. v. RODNEY CLYDE HOPKINS, b. September 30, 1930, Shelby Co., TX.
vi. REBA LANELL HOPKINS, b. January 31, 1941, Shelby Co., TX; d. February 01, 1941.
Notes for REBA LANELL HOPKINS: Jim Bodine showed dates as b/ & d/ 1940. According to Magnum Funeral Home records of 1941-1942, infant Reba's dates are listed as b/ & d/ on 1/30/1942.
More About REBA LANELL HOPKINS: Burial: White Rock Cemetery
4. VOORHEES DEGRAW4 BRIDGES (R.L. (ROBERT LEE)3, GEORGE GRANBERRY2 BRIDGES/BRIDGER, GRANBERRY1 BRIDGER) was born March 11, 1910 in Shelby Co., TX4. He married (1) OLLIE MAE WALLACE February 28, 1936. She was born May 03, 1911 in Nacogdoches Co., TX, and died August 17, 1976 in Jefferson Co., TX. He married (2) SUSIE OLLIE LUCAS FOY March 11, 1978 in Prob. Jefferson Co., TX.
Notes for VOORHEES DEGRAW BRIDGES: My uncle Odis said that Degraw's son "Buddy" looked very much like the picture that I have of R.L. in front of his mail wagon. Don't know which son was called "Buddy".
Children of VOORHEES BRIDGES and OLLIE WALLACE are:
i. SHIRLEY JEAN5 BRIDGES, b. February 25, 1937, Rusk Co., TX; m. JOSPEH BULGHERINI, JR., Abt. 1952; b. August 31, 1930; d. January 1985.
ii. REBECCA ABB BRIDGES, b. February 17, 1940, Shelby Co., TX; m. (1) CHESTER D. YOUNGBLOOD, Abt. 1960; b. May 19, 1936, Jefferson Co., TX; d. November 15, 1979; m. (2) LINDY LAVICK ODOM, July 02, 1981; b. May 23, 1932; d. November 02, 1986, Tyler Co., TX.
iii. VOORHEES DEGRAW BRIDGES, JR., b. May 25, 1942, Smith Co., TX; m. (1) LINDETH; m. (2) MARTHA.
iv. WILLIAM ROBERT BRIDGES, b. June 19, 1944, Jefferson Co., TX; m. LINDA IRENE SMITH; b. August 26, 1949.
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v. JAMES KENNETH BRIDGES, b. December 27, 1946, Jefferson Co., TX; m. (1) WANDA STRANGE ACOCK; m. (2) GLORIA JEAN ANDERSON, Abt. 1966; b. November 25, 1947; m. (3) LINDA LOU KELLY, March 22, 1985.
5. LESSIE ODETT4 BRIDGES (R.L. (ROBERT LEE)3, GEORGE GRANBERRY2 BRIDGES/BRIDGER, GRANBERRY1 BRIDGER) was born August 17, 1912 in Shelby Co., TX, and died August 01, 1987 in Center, TX. She married (1) QUILLON OSWELL MARTIN August 24, 1930 in Martinsville, TX, son of JOSEPH MARTIN and AMANDA BENTLY. He was born December 26, 1893 in Nacogdoches Co., TX, and died September 27, 1974 in Nacogdoches Co., TX. She married (2) CHARLES E. BOYD 1975.
Notes for LESSIE ODETT BRIDGES: One day in the summer of 1990, Daddy, Uncle Gilbert and I visted her. She was married to a "new" husband who was very old and they were going to go fishing. She gave me many pictures of the Wheeler's including some much cherished ones of Tennie, Allie, R.L. and my grandmother Jessie. She gave me one picture showing four generations including Grandmother Mull, Allie, Jessie, and my aunt Murl as a baby.
More About LESSIE ODETT BRIDGES: Burial: August 03, 1987, Martinsville Cemetary, Nacogdoches Co., TX
Notes for QUILLON OSWELL MARTIN: Jim Bodine shows his death date as 1873.
Children of LESSIE BRIDGES and QUILLON MARTIN are:
i. AMANDA MARGARET5 MARTIN, b. November 27, 1933, Shelby Co., TX; m. TOMMY LYNN HARDY, June 01, 1956, Nacogdoches Co., TX; b. September 06, 1928, Nacogdoches Co., TX.
ii. OSWELL LAMAR MARTIN, b. November 03, 1935, Shelby Co., TX; m. CLOTA KAY LAWLER, December 26, 1958, Prob. Shelby Co., TX; b. July 22, 1940.
iii. ALLEN BRUCE MARTIN, b. Bet. August 24 - 25, 1947, Nacogdoches Co., TX; m. VICKIE DIANN SAMPLE, June 10, 1967, Nacogdoches Co., TX; b. August 08, 1948, Shelby Co., TX.
Notes for ALLEN BRUCE MARTIN: Currently still owns R.L.'s mailbook.