Frank James Eldridge

Frank James Eldridge was born January 9, 1931, in Marion, Alabama. He was a son of the late George Farris Eldridge and Annie Lee (Washington) Eldridge. He departed this life at the age of 93 on May 8, 2024 at his home.

At the young age of seven, Frank experienced a fall off a wagon which resulted in the loss of his right leg after being ran over by the wagon wheel. However, he did not let this hold him back.

Frank attended Clark School and Knox Academy in Selma, Alabama. In 1945, at the age of 14, Frank’s family moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1950, he graduated from Central High School.

In 1965, he walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, in Selma, Alabama, with his cousins, Hattie Mae Turner, A.C. Ward, Lee Tab, Beatrice Washington and others to protest Jim Crow segregation laws as part of the historic Civil Rights Movement, led by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Despite the loss of his leg, he was a hard worker. Frank secured various jobs during his lifetime, which included truck driving, welding and employment at General Electric (GE) and General Motors. In 1992, he began employment at the company now known as OmniSource. He worked for 30 years as a Torchman, until his retirement in November 2022 at the age of 90.

Frank, fondly called “Jai” never met a stranger. In his spare time he enjoyed working on cars, traveling and spending time with his family. Family meant everything to him. Every year he looked forward to attending the Eldridge Family Reunion no matter where it was located. For the last few years, he has won the award for the oldest man of the family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Glenn, Bishop Clarence, Willie and Charlie Eldridge and a sister, Ernesteen Smith.

Left the carry on his legacy include his loving and devoted daughters, Latricia Graham, Felicia Graham and Tazcia Eldridge; brothers, AC Eldridge, George (Carolyn Sue) Eldridge Sr. and Johnnie (Joyce Ann) Eldridge; sister, Ethel Brewer, Joanne Eldridge-Tucker (Darryl) and Annie Bryant; sister-in-law, Margie Eldridge; special and devoted nieces, Elizabeth Howard and Caroline Brewer, 10 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and a host of other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.