Dorothy L. Rickman Bridges

Dorothy (Dot) Louise Rickman Bridges of Milledgeville, TN departed this life on Sunday, June 21, 2015 at the age of 85 years. Dorothy was born June 1, 1930 in the Mt. Zion community in McNairy County, TN to the late Walter R. Rickman and Sallie D. (Burns) Rickman. She attended schools in McNairy and Chester Counties and graduated from Adamsville High School in 1948 where she excelled in sports including softball and basketball. She was voted the best athlete of Adamsville High School. After graduation she played on an independent basketball team for several years.

She was an active member of the Milledgeville United Methodist Church where she was a member of the choir and served on many church committees including the church building committee. She was also active in local civic and community events and served on the Milledgeville town council for several years.

Dorothy began her career in the U.S. Postal Service as a clerk in the Milledgeville post office in 1956. She served as Postmaster or manager in seven offices throughout her career including Milledgeville, Savannah, Selmer, Alamo, and Lexington, TN as well as Hardy and Cherokee Village in Arkansas. She was very active in the Postmasters Organization where she served in various lead roles in the state of Tennessee as well as VP for the National League of Postmasters Organization in 1983 in which she was the first lady to hold the National Executive VP position. She was recognized as Postmaster of the Year for both the state of Tennessee and National which is one of the greatest postmaster honors. Dorothy and her husband also owned Bridges Supermarket and Café for many years.

She was united in marriage on December 23, 1947 to H. D. (Detrois) Bridges who preceded her in death in 2008. To this union there were four children, three sons and one daughter. She is survived by sons Mike Bridges (June) of Enville and Nicky Bridges (Darlene) of Henderson, and daughter Deborah Krantz (Ron) of Madison, WI. She leaves behind fifteen grandchildren, Suzanne Pilkinton (Steve), Phil Bridges (Kristen), Katie Boone, Derick Boone (Brittney), Laura Boone, Eric Jensen, Jacqueline Jensen, Steve Krantz (Karie), Jason Krantz (Keely), Chris Krantz (Amy), Todd Shaffer, Brian Bridges (Layla), Heather Weatherly, Tequila Thurman (Justin), and Nick Bridges (Brandy). Twenty great grandchildren, Jade Bridges, Draven Bridges, Bryce Boone, Jaylynn Boone, Johnna Reddick, Stevie Pilkinton, Leah Pilkinton, Boston Pilkinton, Clay Krantz, Tanner Krantz, Dylan Krantz, Aidan Krantz, Ryan Krantz, Mckinley Krantz, Alexander Krantz, Paxten Bridges, Grayson Bridges, Aaron Surratt, Kaylea Surratt, and Faith Thurman. She is survived by two brothers and one sister. Harold Rickman (Betty) of Bolivar, TN, Jerry Dean Rickman (Margaret) of Adamsville, and Marie Wells of Milledgeville, TN. She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty one years, her parents, son Richie Bridges, daughter-in-law Judy Bridges, grandson Luke Bridges, brothers Otis Rickman, Roy Rickman, Carl Rickman, Gene Rickman, sisters Beatrice Hughes and Grace Spencer.