Fannie Lucille Hayes Polk was born March 24, 1921, in Colbert County, Alabama and departed life May 5, 2016, at Cypress Cove Care and Rehab, Muscle Shoals, Alabama. She was the third of ten children born to the union of Harry Sr. and Luesendia Hayes.
Lucille dedicated her life to Christ by uniting with Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, Leighton, Alabama. Upon moving to Buffalo, New York, Lucille united with Trinity Baptist Church where she served as a faithful member for over 25 years. After returning to Alabama, she reunited with Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church and served as a mother’s minister. In 2010, she united with Bible Way Missionary Baptist Church, Florence, Alabama, where she served as a mother’s minister. Lucille remained a faithful member until she became too ill to attend church. She was a member of Naomi Chapel Number 379, Order of Easter Star.
Lucille will be long remembered as a highly respected and invaluable employee. She worked as a store manager for Learner’s Department Store, Buffalo, New York, and retired after 25 years of service. Also, after 15 years of service, she retired from Sheffield High School as a personnel employee.
She attended Leighton Training School, Leighton, Alabama, with the class of 1941. She enjoyed laughing, sharing family stories, being with her family, fishing, and making souse meat (hog head cheese) with the late Pearline Bailey and Willie James Felton. Her best friend, Georgia Douglas Bailey (Tonk), shared many hours of social activities. She touched the lives of many people with her generosity and maintained her trademark sense of humor almost to the end.
Lucille Hayes was united in holy matrimony on May 31, 1944, to Eddie Polk, who preceded her in death. Others preceding her in death were parents, Harry Sr. and Luesendia Hayes; daughter, Ruby Eggleston; brothers, Oliver Hayes and Arthur Lee Hayes; sisters, Earline Felton, Nannie Mae Neloms, Thelma Bobo, and Emily Gaston; son-in-law, Leon Eggleston; and special friends, Albert Jackson and Georgia Bailey.
Her memories will continue to be cherished by brothers, Reverend Carl Hayes and Harry Hayes Jr. (Bertha), of Buffalo, New York; sister, Gertrude Johnson, Linden, Alabama; grandsons, Larry Eggleston (Marlene), of Sinclairville, New York, and Leon Bernard Eggleston (Angela), of Slyvania, Ohio; granddaughters, LaDonna Smith (Carl), of Buffalo, New York, and LaTonya Green (Aaron), of Nokesville, Virginia; 15 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; daughters of Albert Jackson, Cynthia Webster, Nena Jackson, and Tena Partee; along with countless other family and friends who were blessed to know and love her.
Public viewing will be today from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Tuscumbia, Alabama. The funeral will be Saturday, May, 14, 2016, 11 a.m., at Bible Way Missionary Baptist Church, Florence, Alabama, with burial in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Leighton, Alabama. The body will be placed in the church one hour before the service.
The family expresses special thanks to the staff of Cypress Cove Care and Rehab and the staff of New Beacon Southern Care Hospice for the care you provided during Mrs. Polk’s illness.
