Hosea C. Bridges was born on February 2, 1924 in Crawfordsville, Arkansas, to Cal Bridges and Minnie Johnson Bridges, who moved the family to Memphis when Hosea was five years old. He attended Melrose Elementary School and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. He continued his education at Henderson Business School and at LeMoyne-Owen College. He served for three years in the United States Army receiving the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 2 bronze stars, a Good Conduct Medal and a World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1946 at the rank of sergeant. On May 20, 1948, he married Ola Mae Reese and to this union was born a daughter, Chiquita Yvette. He served as Assistant Manager of the LeMoyne Gardens Housing Project and as Manager of Oates Manor Housing Project. In l963, he joined Memphis Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a rent supplement specialist after working fifteen years in housing management. In l970, he was named Director of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at HUD, a position he held for thirteen years. From l983 to 1989, he served as Chief Property Officer at Memphis HUD and retired in 1989 as Chief, Property Disposition Branch. After retirement he worked as a Realtor for Lawrence Johnson Realtors. Hosea was known and admired as an honest and caring man who was always ready, and anxious, to give his time and his heart to projects that improved the lives of others, especially in the arenas of employment and housing. A dedicated member of Memphis Urban League and a lifetime member of NAACP, he received many awards for his work as a community volunteer, housing specialist, and public servant. Those awards include recognition from LeMoyne-Owen College, the United Way of Greater Memphis, Boy Scouts of America, Senior Citizens of America, Youth Service in Memphis, and the United State Civil Defense Service. He was an active and devoted member of Trinity C.M.E. Church where he served as Sunday School teacher, steward and trustee for many decades. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Chiquita Bridges Brown, and his sister, Willie Mae Alexander (Murray). He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ola M. Bridges; three grandchildren, Bruce Bridges Brown (Anessa), Kelly Brown-Morris, and Ginger Reese Brown; four great-grandchildren, Bruce McGee Brown, Langston Morris, Branford Brown, and Blair Brown; two sisters, Pauline Matlock and Dorcas Bridges Bradley of Cleveland, Ohio; two brothers, Curtis Bridges (Lawrence) and James Bridges (Doris); many nephews, grand-nephews, nieces, grand-nieces, cousins, other family members, and friends who will miss his warm and loving spirit. Celebration of Life Services will be held on Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at 11 a.m. at Trinity C.M.E. Church, located 1096 North Thomas. R. S. Lewis Funeral Home is in charge. 901-526-3264