Pauline Mitchell Bruce, known to all who loved her as Ms. Polly, was born in Anniston, Alabama. Polly grew up on a farm with her parents and six siblings. She left school at 17 to work in a parachute factory during WWII. A few years later, she was set up on a date with a handsome soldier named James Bruce. Jim was the love of her life, and they were soon married. Their son, James Michael, was born in 1951.
In 1957, the family moved to Albertville. They joined Mount Calvary Baptist Church, where Polly was an active member, teaching the preschool Sunday school class and serving on the Women’s Auxiliary. She dearly loved Mount Calvary and her church family.
Polly had an entrepreneurial spirit, and in 1967 she purchased Merle Norman Cosmetics in Boaz. Merle Norman was her passion, and Polly had a gift for making her customers feel special. Her friends and regular customers knew the little table in the back of Merle Norman was a place to share coffee and good conversation. She charged for the make-up, but the wise counsel was free. Polly loved her job and often joked that it was the secret to her youthful appearance and boundless energy. After an illness in 2018, she somewhat grudgingly agreed to reduce her workweek from six days to five.
Polly was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Walter and Euna Mae Mitchell, sisters Lyda Mitchell and Della Robinette, brothers James Mitchell and Eugene Mitchell, her husband Jim, and her son Phillip Wayne. She is survived by her son James Michael Bruce and daughter-in-law Joani Yarbrough, her beloved niece, Janice Bruce Callaway, her brothers, Norman Mitchell (Jackie) and Gorden Mitchell (Ruth), her grandchildren, Whitney Yarborough (Brent), Mitchell Bruce (Brenne), Evan Bruce (Lindsey), Lacy Robinson (Russell), her great-grandchildren, Naveah, Grayson, William, Reed, and Elora, and many nieces and nephews. Polly and Elora developed a special bond over their shared love of playing dress-up.
Her family wishes to thank her close friends, Tommy and Carol Langley, Ken and Linda Formby, and Donna Bruce. Due to pandemic concerns, a celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mount Calvary Baptist Church or Shepherd’s Cove Hospice.
