Suzanne "Suzi" Ballard Bridger

JONESBORO—Suzanne “Suzi” Ballard Bridger, 64, died Saturday, April 21, 2012 at her home.

Suzi was a Christian and a lifelong member of Walnut Street Baptist Church. She retired from Jonesboro Public Schools where she taught art for 39 years at Annie Camp Middle School and Jonesboro High School. She also served as the JHS Cheerleading Sponsor for many years. Suzi was a 1965 graduate of Jonesboro High School and received a Bachelor of Arts in Art/Business Administration in 1970 as well as a Master of Science in Counseling in 1985 from Arkansas State University. Suzi was an entrepreneur and a business woman. She was the founder/owner of Southern Screen Printing, LLC; Southern Trophy, LLC and co-owner/founder with her daughters of Bridger-Jones Investments, LLC. She and her family showed quarter horses for more than 30 years in the Northeast Arkansas Horse Show Association and competed in the Arkansas State Championship Horse Show. Suzi loved traveling with her family and spending time with her friends.

She is survived by two daughters and their husbands Jack and Jennifer Bridger Jones and Brandon and Jessica Bridger Wood; 5 grandchildren that called her “Honey”, Jett Bridger Jones, Sloane Bridger Wood, Beau Edward Jones, Mackenzie Rhea Wood and Tyler Dalton Wood; her brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Candy Ballard; 4 nieces, Emily Ballard Gairhan, Gretchen Bohna Weissner, Jill Bohna Cain and Holly H. Bridger; nephew, Craig Bohna.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, James “Jimmy” Edward Bridger Jr.; her parents Robert “Bob” and Faye Ballard of Jonesboro, AR, one sister Jan Ballard Bohna of Pittsburgh, PA.; her maternal grandmother “Mammy” Mrs. Maudie May (Owen) Halstead and grandfather, Mr. R.W. Owen and her paternal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Ballard of Jonesboro, AR.

Active pallbearers will be Wesley Miller, Jack Harrington, Stacy Green, Jim Ellis, Jim DeVazier Steve Perkins and Carey Smothermon.

Honorary pallbearers will be “Girls of 65 Luncheon Group”, Steve Ballard, Jack Jones, Brandon Wood, Beau Jones, Scott Gairhan, David Lawrence, Gussi Causey and Karen Hart.

Visitation will be from 5-7:00 P.M. Monday, April 23, at Emerson Funeral Home.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday April 24,in Emerson Memorial Chapel, with Dr. Glen Putman and Bro. Jerry Parker officiating. Burial will be at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery with Emerson Funeral Home in charge.

Those wishing to leave lasting memorial please consider Walnut Street Baptist Church, 1910 Scenic Rd., Jonesboro, AR or M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.