Billy Wayne Bridwell

Greenwood, MS: Billy Wayne Bridwell, 83, passed away suddenly Friday Morning, December 14, 2018.  Funeral services are 2:30 P.M. Tuesday, December 18 at the First United Methodist Church with interment in Odd Fellows Cemetery.  Rev. Brad Hodges, Rev. Glenn Seefeld and Rev. Dennis Gossett Will Officiate.  Visitation is from 1:30 until service time in the church sanctuary.

Bill was born in Derma, MS to Wayne and Etoyle Bridwell.  They moved to Greenwood while he was in the 3rd grade, graduated from Greenwood High School in 1953, and attended Sunflower Jr. College where he drove the school bus to assist with his tuition.  He graduated with a BS degree in chemistry from Southeastern LA University in 1955, entered Louisiana State University in 1958 and earned his MS degree in Chemistry. He remained an avid LSU sports fan throughout his lifetime. He worked for 34 years as a research chemist at numerous location including, Baton Rouge, LA, Morristown, NJ, Moundsville, WV, Brookhaven, MS and Sugarland, TX.

As a young man he enjoyed industrial and church league softball and later enjoyed duplicate bridge and golf. After retirement, he moved to the McComb area to play golf in warmer weather.  He joined the MS Senior Golf Assn. in 1998, served on the MSGA board and was president from 2007-2010.  In 1999 he came to Greenwood to play in a tournament and while here, he became reacquainted with a former classmate, Joan, and they married in November of that year.  Bill was a very active member of the First United Methodist Church where he served on numerous committees, taught Sunday School and sang in the church choir.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.  He is survived by his wife Joan Weber Bridwell, a daughter; Jan Bridwell Tate (Roby) of Rosenberg, TX, three sons; David Howard (Sally) and Matt Howard (Chriss) both of Sidon, MS, and Joe Howard (Annie) of Germantown, TN, a brother Tommy Jagodinski of Panama City, FL, 9 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Matt Howard, Jr., Bob Blakely, Noland Howard, Dave Glasgow, Cesar Hooper and Mike Deaton.  Honorary pallbearers will be Bardin Redditt, Wayne Bush, Tommy Muirhead, Billy Walker and Charles Bowman.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Greenwood or the charity of donor’s choice. 

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