Paula Herndon Polk

Biography

Mrs. Paula Herndon Polk, age 65, of Parkwood Circle, Walterboro, entered into rest Saturday morning, March 23, 2013, at the Colleton Medical Center in Walterboro.

Funeral services will be conducted 3 o'clock Monday afternoon, March 25, 2013, from The Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Chapel, Walterboro. The Reverend Dr. W. Steven Brown and The Reverend Bruce Fox officiating. Interment will follow in Rice Patch Christian Churchyard, 15246 Sniders Highway, Islandton. The family has requested that members of the Red Hat Society serve as Honorary Escorts and their presence is requested that at The Funeral Chapel at 2:30 that afternoon.

Born December 5, 1947, a native of Colleton County, she was a daughter of the late Tal H. Herndon, Sr. and the late Gladys Searson Herndon. She was a graduate of Bells High School, Class of 1967, and then received her Bachelor's in English from Baptist College in Charleston graduating with the Class of 1970. Paula was a beloved educator, who touched and enriched the lives of countless scholars during her career as an English Teacher before her retirement in 2008 from Colleton County High School in Walterboro. She was a member of Pine Grove Baptist Church No. 1 in Walterboro and had also attended the First Baptist Church of Walterboro. She was an active and dedicated member of the Red Hat Society in Walterboro and was also a member of the Gamma Phi Delta Sorority. Paula loved art and possessed a great talent and skill for creating many paintings. She will be recalled with much fondness and will be missed greatly by her loving family whom throughout her life and in retirement she centered her life around.

Surviving are: her husband of forty years, Mr. Charles Leroy Polk; a son, Shane Christopher Polk and his wife Jill Elizabeth Polk of Cleveland Heights, Ohio; a daughter, Paisley Polk Elliott and her husband Daniel Elliott of Gaffney; a brother, Michael Lee Herndon, Sr. of Walterboro; and two sisters, Shirley Herndon Bailey of Walterboro and Patricia Herndon Blitch of Charleston. There are three grandchildren whom she adored, Parker Sullivan Polk, Remy Laine Polk, and Cora Jane Polk; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins who also survive. She was preceded in death by a brother, Tal H. "Sonny" Herndon, Jr.; and two sisters, Helen Herndon Hudson and Brenda Herndon.

Flowers will be accepted, or for those who wish, the family has respectfully requested that memorial contributions be directed in her memory to the following: The American Lung Association, 44-A Markfield Drive, Charleston, South Carolina 29407; or to, Colleton County Relay for Life, 5900 Core Road, Suite 504, North Charleston, South Carolina 29406.

For those that so desire, memorial messages and thoughts of condolence, as well as memorable recollections of Mrs. Polk may be shared with the family at the online guestbook, www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.

Family and friends are invited to call from 6 o'clock until 8 o'clock this Sunday evening at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, 843.538.5408.