Annetta Hereford Bridges

Annetta Hereford Bridges April 26, 1924 - March 2, 2011 Annetta Hereford Bridges, 86, formerly of Mart, Texas, passed away Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at Hudson Creek Alzheimer's Special Care Center in Bryan, Texas, with her husband and daughter beside her. Services will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 8, at First Baptist Church of Mart with the Rev. Gary Kreder officiating. Burial will be a private service at Tow Cemetery of Tow, Texas. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, March 7, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room, 6101 Bosque Blvd., Waco 76710. Annetta was born April 26, 1924, near Lometa, Texas, to Leslie R. and Eula Shaw Hereford. She attended Tarleton State University at the age of 16 to study music, where she won the Tarleton Bathing Beauty Contest. On June 10, 1941 she married Herford Hering Bridges in Pleasanton, Texas, after being introduced to each other by her brother, Leslie. She modeled for large department stores, one of which was Joske's in San Antonio. Herford and Leslie were students at Tarleton State University. Annetta and Herford were three months shy of their 70th anniversary upon Annetta's passing away. They shared an amazingly strong love, from beginning to end. After having five children, Annetta returned to college and earned a B.A. cum laude from Texas A&I University in Kingsville and many years later completed her M.A. in English at Baylor University. She taught English, Art, and French in various locations in Texas, spending most of that time at University High in Waco. She also taught at Baylor while working on her master's degree. Annetta also wrote a newspaper column in the Waco Tribune Herald called "Ask theTeacher" when she was teaching in Waco. She held other professional positions, primarily in the education field. She was a firm believer in the importance of higher education. After retiring, Annetta travelled extensively, visiting all the Greek islands, Italy, France, England, Albania, and Scotland. She very much enjoyed the abundant art museums, statuary, and cathedrals, as well as meeting her Hereford relatives in Herefordshire, England. Annetta was a member of the First Baptist Church in Mart, where she taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, and played handbells and the piano. Her faith was unshakeable, and her social life was within the church circle. Music was the highlight of Annetta's life. To the very end, music was her greatest joy and an emotional outlet for her. She was a talented pianist and played by ear at 4 years of age. Until her final day, she played the piano beautifully. Annetta was a writer, too, and had many publications, including two articles in Reader's Digest. She will be remembered for her sweetness, kindness, talent, beauty, grace, intelligence, strong faith, loving nature, and devotion to her husband and pride in her children. In her last years, she especially enjoyed babies, who would cause her face to light up with joy. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Leslie R. Hereford Jr., Rose Denson, and Fay Staggs, and by her parents. She is survived by her husband; sons, Rayford of Austin, Leslie Duane and Suzanne of Bellmead, and Michael and Donna of Elk, Texas; daughters, Roxie Palczer and Terry of Fairview and Brenda Bridges and Bill McCain of College Station; granddaughters Marna Dawn and George Lovett and Kari, of Austin; and grandsons Darek of Orlando, Florida, and Zachary of Elk. Memorials may be made to the music fund at the First Baptist Church, 601 East Texas Ave., Mart TX 76664-1401, or to the Alzheimer's Association, Suite 100, 3429 Executive Center Dr., Austin, TX 78731. The family is grateful to Annetta's caregivers, particularly Vivian Coles, and the staff at Hudson Creek, as well as her lovely friends from church. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.