Remembered for her faith, devotion and tireless community advocacy
January 9, 1948 – April 17, 2026
The San Marco and Larsen communities celebrate the life and memory of Patricia “Pat” Ann Bridgeman, who passed away peacefully on April 17, 2026.
Throughout her life, Pat dedicated herself to her faith and her family, with an unbridled passion and commitment to serving others.
Pat cared for generations of children at Labor of Love Childcare, which she owned and operated, a business she viewed as a calling and through which she offered love, structure, and encouragement for countless children she supervised during those early, formative years.
Beyond that, Pat was a tireless advocate for her church and her community, responding to a call for aid when Paul Avenue Baptist Church faced closure in the early 2000s. Pat’s faith and persistence saw the historic congregation come under the care of Aspire Church San Marco, where it continues its mission. That church would become a lifeline during Pat’s efforts to bring potable drinking water to the Larsen community. The church became a base from which jugs of clean water were filled and resources were distributed. By 2015, new water lines were installed through a partnership between Builders Care and the City of Jacksonville, allowing many residents to connect to JEA water service.
For 30 years, Pat served as a crossing guard at Hendricks Avenue Elementary, faithfully standing her post rain or shine for generations of students who came to know her as a community guardian.
Pat is survived by her devoted husband, Charlie Bridgeman Sr.; her children, Chuck, Cara, Pebby Elliott, and Josh Bridgeman; her brother, Donald Howard; 11 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents, Nadine and William F. Howard, and her siblings, Randy Howard, Sharon Johnson, and Billy Howard.
