Polly Patton

JEFFERSON – Miss Polly M. Patton, 100, died Monday, October 11, 2010.

Born in Franklin County on February 10, 1910, she was the first child born to the late Joseph Melvin and Mary Whitsell Patton. After moving to Hall County shortly after her birth, she has lived in Jackson County for over 80 years, with much of that time spent living in the family home in Pendergrass. She has been a lifelong church member. She was saved and baptized at the age of 13 and attended Talmo Baptist Church. She was a member of Pendergrass Baptist Church for over 50 years and the last 20 years at the Bethany United Methodist Church in Brockton community of Jefferson. She is the oldest of 14 children, with only two of those surviving.

Although Miss Polly never married, she raised her sister Clara’s daughter, Mary Ann Gee-Wilkes of Jefferson after Clara was killed in an automobile accident. Brother-in-law Herman Gee of Jefferson and Miss Polly helped raise two more generations of her family, including Mary Ann’s children, Shannon and Bryan Wheeler, Jefferson, and Jamey and Deborah Wilkes, Toccoa, and their children, Claire Wheeler and Parker Wilkes. Her sister, Betty and Joe Davis, Pendergrass, and brother, Bob Patton, Gainesville, also survive. She also has many nieces and nephews who would gladly attest to her influence in their lives.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, October 13, at 2 p.m. from the Talmo Baptist church with the Rev. Dave Cornelius officiating. Lynda Keasler will be the pianist and Becky Jordan will be the soloist. The family will receive friends after the memorial service.

Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, is in charge of arrangements.