Dr. Sealy Marie Shephard-Pollard

Dr. Sealy Marie Shephard-Pollard

Sealy Marie known to many as “CC” was born on July 7, 1943 in Hockley, Texas to the late Mr. Jesse and Mrs. Aslee Shephard. She was the second child of nine children. She grew up in Hockley, Texas and attended Hockley Elementary School and later Prairie View Training School in Prairie View, Texas. She graduated from Prairie View High School in 1961.

She accepted Christ as her personal Savior at an early age and was filled with the Holy Ghost at Good Shepherd Church of God in Christ, the late Elder S.A. Jordan, Pastor; during a revival conducted by his wife, the late Missionary Sweetie Mable Ruth Jordan Lacy in Hockley, Texas in 1961. Her favorite scripture was “I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me”, Philippians 4:13. She was a congregational song leader and a skillful tambourine beater in church. Her genuine love, charisma, warm hugs, personality, and infectious smile left an indelible mark upon the lives of many. She loved meeting and conversing with people and her motto was “Do unto others as you will have them do unto you.” She was filled with generosity and loved making others happy,

Lastly, she had a special love for her ‘fur’ babies (dogs); Scoobie, Tea Cup, Snowball and Snowflakes.

In 1970, she relocated to Los Angeles, CA. She became a member at Gospel Temple Church of God in Christ, Los Angeles, CA, the late Rev. A. B. Sims, Pastor; Academy Cathedral Church, Inglewood, CA, the late Rev. Doyle Hart, Pastor; and Freedom in Christ Christian Fellowship Church, Redondo Beach, CA, Rev. Kevin Boone, Pastor. After returning home, she later rejoined Victorious Overcomers C.O.G.I.C. in Hockley, Texas, Elder Kelvin Shephard, Pastor.

In Sealy’s earlier years in the church, she held several positions—Sunday School teacher, YPWW teacher, Bible Band President, International Youth Congress World Evangelism Committee (IYCWEC) secretary, Church Treasurer, District Secretary, and various other capacities.

Sealy was united in Holy Matrimony on August 7, 1986 to Dr. Edward Gilbert Pollard. They resided in Inglewood, California until his demise on August 25, 2017. In February 2018, Sealy returned home to be with her family after living forty-eight years in California.

Her education includes: High school diploma from Prairie View High School, Prairie View, TX (1961); Associate of Arts (AA) degree from Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX, major Secretarial Science (1964); Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from Cal State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA, major Public Administration/Criminal Justice (1996); Master of Science (MS) degree from Colorado Technical University, Colorado Springs, CO, major Criminal Justice (2009); and a Doctorate of Management (DM) degree in Management and Homeland Security (2014) from Colorado Technical University, Colorado Springs, CO.

Her employment has included Department of Education, Texas Interscholastic League and Placement Office, and School of Agriculture, all at Prairie View A&M University; Coca Cola Bottling Company, Los Angeles, CA; Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), Los Angeles, CA (retired 1995); and Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Law Enforcement, Torrance, CA (retired (2017).

In 2009 and 2014, Sealy became a Renal Cell Carcinoma, Stage I (kidney cancer) survivor. Then in 2018, she also became a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Stage II survivor. After a series of health challenges, Sealy transitioned from life to eternity at Houston Hospice on July 31, 2020. Her last audible words were “Thank you, God.”

Sealy is preceded in death by her loving husband, Dr. Edward Pollard, parents: Mr. Jesse and Mrs. Aslee Shephard, niece: Laura Shephard and nephew: Jermaine Shephard.

Left to cherish her memories are her siblings: Jesse Lee Knight, James Clarence, George Lawrence (Ruby), Robert Ennis (Ellen), Hazel O’Dee Piggee, Barbara Jeanette, Mildred Jean, and Gloria “Globaby” Ann Carrington. Three stepchildren: Stephanie Pollard Wright, Eddie Pollard Jr. and Debra Pollard Wood, Godsons: Michael Shephard, Harold Tisdell, Jr, Vincent Carrington, and Jonathan Boone. She also leaves to mourn: nineteen nieces and nephews, twenty-two great nieces and nephews, and a host of cousins and friends.