Virginia Lee Pollard

Virginia Lee Pollard, a resident of Midland, Texas since 1958, and died November 27, 2014, following a brief illness. Born November 13, 1936, in Lubbock, Texas, she was the first born in a family of two girls born to Uriel Addison and Vannie Lee Randolph (both deceased). She grew up in in Montague County where she attended elementary school at Saint Jo, Nocona, and Bowie, Texas. In high school she was awarded the Texas State Homemakers Degree and became the National Song Leader of the Future Homemakers of America. She received her Bachelor of Arts at North Texas University in Denton, Texas in 1958. She was raised in Montague, Texas where her father was the horticulturist at the Texas A&M Experiment Station. Her exposure to his work at an early age developed in her a love for plants and gardening that lasted a lifetime. She married Rex Barton Pollard of Bowie, Texas in May of 1958. She accepted her first teaching job in Midland, Texas following graduation. She also received her Masters of Education at North Texas University in Denton, Texas in 1970. She became a committed lifelong teacher and spent her career instructing children. Mrs. Pollard taught Fine Arts in the Midland Independent School District for 30 years and in El Paso Independent School District for 5 years having taught in several elementary schools bringing the total to 35 years in the Texas Public Schools. She retired from teaching in 1993 to be with her husband and grandchildren.

Mrs. Pollard was honored to be listed as an educator in Who's Who in American Education and The Most Prominent Educators of Texas. While in El Paso she was voted Teacher of the Year at Crockett School. She served as a member of Christian Services in El Paso. In Midland she was awarded Life Membership in the Parent, Teachers Association in 1968. She held membership in professional teaching organizations such as Kappa Kappa Iota, Delta Kappa Gamma, Texas Music Educators Association, and Texas Art Educators Association kept her busy serving in many office functions. After retiring she was a member of the Midland and Texas Retired Teachers Association. She was active in church activities, teaching, singing with many groups, especially a Christian group called "People to People", and singing for many weddings and funerals in the community and surrounding areas. She was also known in the community for the elementary school music programs which she presented each year and also having her students participate in the Celebration of Arts each year Mrs. Pollard will always be remembered by her students as she would say to them before giving instruction: "Put your hands under your sit-up-ons".

Mrs. Pollard is survived by her husband, Rex Barton Pollard, of Midland, Texas; grandson, Darryle Wayne Pollard of Lubbock, Texas; one granddaughter, Gina Lee Cobb of Joshua, Texas; brother-in-law, Jim Davis of Austin, Texas. In addition, she is survived by two nieces, Shannon Gatlin, and Tammy Egli; one nephew, Jeffrey Clark; and two great nieces and three great nephews.

She is preceded in death by two sons Rory Kym Pollard and Kevin Dale Pollard of Midland, Texas, her sister Lafonda Ann Davis, her parents Uriel Addison Randolph and Vannie Lee Randolph.

The pallbearers will be Darryle Pollard, Jeffrey Clark, Lloyd Barrow, Joe Ritchie, Craig Dunn, and Bucky Moore.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 1, 2014 at Ellis Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at Ellis Funeral Home Chapel, with Tom Segulja officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park.

“Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come… a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” (Proverbs 31:25, 30)