SILER CITY — Janet Brady Bridges, who was known for her kindness and beautiful smile, died Christmas Day at Chatham Hospital. She was 45 years old and in her 22nd year of teaching at Siler City Elementary School.
Her niece, Amanda Brady, confirmed the news in a Facebook post early the next morning, ending her post with a heart-wrenching final request for her aunt: “Give Nanny a big hug for all of us.”
“I’ve been trying to find the right words, but that’s just not possible ...” Brady wrote. “I will never forget how much love and compassion you always showed us. We love you so much and we miss you so even more.”
Bridges, who was born in Chatham, was a lifelong member of Fall Creek Baptist Church in Bennett, where she was the pianist — known for her solos, wedding music and love for Jesus. She also attended New Salem Baptist Church in Pittsboro. She loved to offer encouragement and “always had a kind word for everyone she met,” her obituary said, and she loved her family deeply.
The News + Record received several reports from friends and co-workers that Bridges had died due to COVID-19 complications and had tested positive earlier in the week. On Dec. 19, Fall Creek’s Facebook page announced in-person services would be canceled due to a few COVID-19 cases; a livestream video from earlier this week stating Bridges had contracted the virus was later removed to “guard the privacy of our church family,” the church said in a Dec. 29 post, which did not mention the specific content of the removed videos.
Chatham County Schools Public Relations Coordinator John McCann told the News + Record the district could not confirm or comment on any employee’s cause of death — but if the unconfirmed reports are true, Bridges is the first known employee to die from COVID-19. The Chatham County Public Health Department’s COVID-19 Dashboard does not reflect any COVID-19 deaths since Nov. 6, though that dashboard only includes confirmed cases and deaths. At the time of publication, Bridges’ family members had neither posted nor confirmed the cause of her death for the News + Record.
It’s evident from comments from co-workers and other friends just how many people loved and will miss Bridges — including her husband, father, sister, brother, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews and many other family and friends, her obituary said. Alirio Estevez, who met Bridges five years ago when he joined Siler City Elementary’s ESL team, said learning of his friend’s death on Christmas was a terrible shock.
“I was floored. I mean I had talked to her before the winter break, that Friday,” he said. “I know people say you’re not supposed to talk evil of dead people, but I couldn’t find anything evil in her even if I wanted to. I mean, she was sweet. She was smiling. She helped everybody.”
What he’ll miss most — as many others wrote in Facebook posts over the weekend — is her smile.
“It was the most beautiful smile,” he said, “even with a mask on.”
Siler City Elementary Principal Tania Poston emailed her school community on Saturday to alert them of Bridges’ death and said counseling support would be available to students, even during the rest of winter break. Teaching for over 22 years at the school, Bridges most recently worked at the ESL teacher with 1st and 2nd grade students.
“She not only taught our children but also — as someone extremely gifted musically — shared her special talents with the adults and students in our school,” Poston wrote. “Ms. Bridges will be greatly missed by our entire school community.”
For Estevez, though his grief is great now, he expects it will be worse when he returns to school after the break, this time without Bridges. He worries especially about how to comfort students when he cannot safely hug them or hold their hand.
“When I go back to school, I don’t know how I will tell my students that she’s not coming back,” he said. “And I know next week when I go back to school I will feel the void.”
Other co-workers expressed similar sentiments on social media, with many describing her as “an angel” and “the most beautiful person.”
A graveside celebration of life is tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m. on Jan. 6 at Fall Creek Baptist Church. Her obituary on Joyce-Brady Chapel’s website says attendees will be asked to wear masks and social distance.
As Estevez reflects on his friend’s life, and prepares to continue teaching without her, he wishes that more people would take COVID-19 seriously — honoring his friend’s life by doing their part to slow the spread of the virus.
“She shouldn’t be a statistic,” he said. “She shouldn’t be another number.”
Reporter Hannah McClellan can be reached at hannah@chathamnr.com.