Margaret Moss Bridges

Margaret Della Moss Bridges was born October 18, 1935 in Spartanburg , SC. It was fitting because fall was her favorite season. She left this earth for Heaven on the winds of Hurricane Helene on September 27, 2024 after a period of declining health. She was the youngest child of Pierce Clement Moss, Sr. and Ollie Mae Montjoy Moss. 

Margaret graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1953, and the people who signed her yearbook always commented on her smile and friendly nature. She was always excited when it was reunion time and happy to see her classmates. Her popularity and personality contributed to her becoming Miss Spartanburg County in that same year. A trip to Cuba in 1953 with her mother and sister probably started the love of travel that she enjoyed later in life. Margaret attended two years at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where her daughter, Susan, heard more stories about the fun she had with roommates rather than the details of what she studied. A good friend of hers, also named Margaret, introduced her to Jesse Bridges when she was searching for a job and they began dating. In April of her second year at USC, they eloped. She then helped Jesse as he started his own finance company, Security Finance, where she later served on the Board of Directors.

Margaret was a member of First Baptist Church of Spartanburg. She enjoyed her time working with the Spartanburg Junior League and playing bridge with her friends. I960, she and Jesse bought a lot on the newly constructed Lake Bowen reservoir, where there were many happy memories of water skiing, fishing and cookouts out with their two children, Susan and Glenn, and other extended family members. In 1971 Jesse wanted to spend time in Charleston where he had been stationed while in the US Navy. They bought a boat named the “Sandpiper”, which was their floating home away from home. When the boat left on one of its many all day fishing trips, Margaret would sleep on the way out, get up and cook breakfast, and often walk out to the cockpit just as a fish hit the rod. Boating on the “Sandpiper” led to trips to Florida and the Bahamas and then the purchase of another boat renamed the “Simple Interest”. Margaret and Jesse took up residence in Ft Pierce, Florida after their children graduated. After Jesse’s untimely death in 1989, Margaret continued to travel back and forth between Florida and South Carolina. Close friends in Spartanburg introduced her to a recent widower, Charlie Moore, who became part of the Bridges family. Together Margaret and Charlie traveled on cruises to Europe, Alaska, and the Caribbean. They particularly had fun taking an extended road trip with friends across the northern United States. Wherever they went, Margaret still enjoyed coming back to South Carolina to be closer to her family. 

Margaret is survived by a daughter, Susan and son-in-law, Kenny Moore of Spartanburg and a son, Glenn Bridges of Awendaw. She is also survived by one grandson, Daniel Moore and daughter-in-law Tori, of Spartanburg , and her great grandson James, whom she especially enjoyed seeing. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Margaret was predeceased by her parents, her husband Jesse, her brother Pierce Moss of Indiana and sister Sylvia Anderson of Moore, and her special friend Charlie Moore. Margaret was predeceased by too many of her four-legged family members to list. Those animals were both well-loved and well-traveled, having flown and driven between South Carolina and Florida many times. 

The family wishes to thank those special people who helped care for Margaret in the last few years and the most recent caregivers – Jean, Phyllis, Antoinette, LaQuena, Lyubov, Rose, Lekisha, and Evelyn. “Miss Margaret” developed a special attachment to Jean from the beginning. Jean was the one who could be relied upon to coax “Miss Margaret” into doing almost anything (such as unlocking the door when Margaret decided she absolutely did not need any help!). Together they had some good laughs, and Susan teased them that they liked to watch television shows with “good looking men”. The family also thanks the hospice team of Providence Care as they helped with Margaret’s care over the past few months. 

Graveside services will be 2:00pm on Friday, October 4, 2024 in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Todd Lowe. The family will receive friends following the services at the graveside.

While Margaret enjoyed pretty flowers, if you prefer to make a memorial gift, the family suggests the American Red Cross Hurricane Helene Relief, First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, or the Spartanburg Humane Society.