Mollie Holland Bridgforth died at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison, Mississippi on September 3, 2017. She was 91.
Mollie was born in Pontotoc County, MS on March 5, 1926. She was the ninth of ten children. Mollie was greatly influenced by her experiences as a child of the Great Depression growing up in a poor, but loving large family in rural northeast Mississippi.
After graduation from Tupelo High School, Mollie became a legal secretary in the office of Sam E. Lumpkin in Tupelo. Following his election as Lieutenant Governor in 1948 she moved to Jackson where she continued working as Mr. Lumpkin’s secretary. There she met Walter Bridgforth, a Yazoo City lawyer, then serving in the House of Representatives. They married in 1952 returning to Yazoo City where Mollie lived until Walter’s death. In 2001 Mollie made the decision to move to St. Catherine’s where she made many friends and enjoyed life in independent living.
During her married life Mollie was able to pursue her varied interests. Circumstances had dictated that she was unable to attend college, nevertheless Mollie possessed a keen and open mind. She was a great reader who relished the Victorian novel as well as the southern short story writers of the 20th century, particularly Eudora Welty. Other interests included gardening at her wooded home in the bluff hills outside of Yazoo City, as well as cooking for her family and friends. She and Walter enjoyed collecting antiques often found on trips to New Orleans usually accompanied by Walter’s aunt and Mollie’s dear friend, Louise Gwin. She was not averse to a game of bridge and a drink of scotch.
Mollie was predeceased by her parents, Homer and Ella Holland, as well as all nine of her siblings. She is survived by her son Allen Bridgforth of Goodman and two grandsons, Fort Bridgforth of New Orleans and James Bridgforth of Jackson and two great grandsons, David and William Bridgforth of New Orleans.
Memorials may be made to St. Catherine’s Village, 200 Dominican Drive, Madison, MS 39110 or the Eudora Welty Foundation, PO Box 55685, Jackson, MS 39296-5685, or a charity of your choice.
