Polly Gilley

A gathering to celebrate the life of Polly Gilley, age 80, will be held at First Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Mississippi Tuesday April 12, 2022. Visitation will start at 12 p.m. at the church and the service will begin at 2 p.m. officiated by Dr. Dan Howard and Reverend Evan Humphries. Internment will be at Eastlawn Cemetery in Philadelphia, Mississippi, following the memorial service under the direction of McClain-Hays Funeral Services. My mother was born in Mobile, Alabama December 6, 1941 to Alice Carpenter and John Percy Reynolds. She entered into Heaven on April 8, 2022 at Anderson Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. She graduated from Leroy High School in Leroy Alabama in 1960. In 1956, my mother met my father on a blind date and they have been inseparable for 66 years. They married July 29, 1961 and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last year. She attended Louisiana Tech and was two quarters from graduation before she and her family moved to Alabama in 1982. My mother was a huge Auburn fan. Auburn football, baseball, anything Auburn…she was all about it. She was funny and I mean hilarious. She had that Carpenter sense of humor. She loved a daily dose of coke and peanuts and no evening ended without solving every Wheel of Fortune puzzle. She loved to watch the wild birds on the deck and complained about the hawks that may swoop down and carry off a ring-necked dove. She didn’t have a dog or cat…she had a pet Muscovy duck that she called Musky. She would make sure he was fed even if there was snow on the ground. My mother loved her three sisters immensely. Any time spent with them was the best day of her life. She loved the little children she taught in Sunday School, which she did for over 50 years. She made each of them feel special and taught them the love of Christ and what he could do in their lives. She loved her church and her church family at First Baptist of Philadelphia. She was a dedicated servant there for 26 years. My mother loved a lot of things, but her pride and great joy were her family….my dad, children, grandchildren and great grandson. My precious mother is with her heavenly father and the loved ones that went before her. My mother was very loved and worthy. Polly is preceded in death by her parents Alice Carpenter Richardson, J.P. Reynolds and Norman Richardson. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Bill Gilley; Daughters Karen Gilley Baker (Duke) of Jackson, Mississippi and Kelly Gilley Heath of Philadelphia, Mississippi; three grandchildren Lorianna Baker Eby (Conor) of Austin, Texas, Leslie Heath Bryan (Kameron) of Talladega, Alabama, Dees Baker and girlfriend Arielle Giurintano of Jackson, Mississippi and one precious great grandchild Jaxon Beau Bryan: sisters Jean Thompson (Jim) of Frankville, Alabama, Glyn Faith (Leroy) St. Stephens, Alabama, Norma Busby (Levone) St. Stephens, Alabama, Aunt Rosa Marie ‘Honey’ McIlwain, Uncles Clarence Carpenter and Dewey Carpenter. In July, my mother was looking forward to meeting her newest great grandchild Della Waide Bryan. “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Matthew 25:21 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed” Psalm 34:18 Pallbearers: Dees Baker, Conor Eby, Kameron Bryan, Duke Baker, Jonathon Hight, Austin Hight and Willie Jackson Dedicated memorials for Polly Gilley can be made to First Baptist Church of Philadelphia’s Children’s Ministry 414 Pecan Av. Philadelphia, MS 39350 or The Gideons International. My mother loved trees and flowers. You may plant one in her honor. She would love that so much.