Rosie Polk

Rosie Polk

NOVEMBER 27, 1924 ~ SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 (AGE 93)

A TIME TO BE BORN . . .
In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God
The word of God was spoken and Mrs. Rosie Lewis Polk came forth. She was born November 27, 1923, the first child of the late F. L. Lewis, Sr. and the late Velma Ballard Murphy. During her ninety-four years and nine months of living her life, she had many experiences and touched many lives. Both her parents and a stepfather (Mr. Rent Murphy) whom she came to love as her own father preceded her in death. Two loving sisters and three brothers also preceded her in death.
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”
At an early age, she professed her faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and joined Maze Hill M. B. Church in Hickory Valley, Tennessee. She later was a member of Hunts’ Chapel Church and Hopewell M. B. Church in Grand Junction, Tennessee. Upon moving to Bolivar, Tennessee in later years, she became a member of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church where she attended regularly and served as a Mother of the church until her health limited her ability to attend. She attended school in Hardeman County until the eighth grade when her father became ill and passed away suddenly. After the death of her father, she had the responsibility of helping her mother to gather the crops and care for her younger siblings.
A TIME TO PLANT . . .
Miss Rosie Lewis was united in holy matrimony to Mr. Lee Toy Polk at a tender age. Unto this union eight children were born. Although the love of her life, Mr. Lee Toy was called home to God much too early according to Mrs. Rosie, God abundantly blessed her and granted her over ninety-four years to love, support and care for four more generations of her family. She was very fond of her neighbors and adopted those in need as her very own. She was known and loved by many as “Muh.”
Mrs. Rosie was well known as a hard working woman regardless of what she set out to do. During the early years, she and her late husband were sharecroppers. She would proudly pick well over three hundred pounds of cotton every single day. Upon moving to Bolivar in the late 50’s, she began day work as a cook and housekeeper in private homes. She had the privilege of working with her husband as a factory worker at Tennessee Foods in Bolivar and Rossville, Tennessee. She was honored to be among the first employees at Bolivar Community Hospital, where she proudly retired as a custodial worker. After retiring she enjoyed being home with her youngest grandchild, Yakina and her great grandson, Jonathan. Both of them were spoiled rotten by her and their step grandfather, Edward Harris. Later in life, Mrs. Rosie grabbed at the opportunity for a new experience as a foster grandparent at Whiteville Elementary School. She was

A TIME TO DIE . . .
“To everything there is a season of which is spent here on earth, but when the time has come that which is here on earth is called back into which it came forth from.”
At ninety-four years and nine months, she lived an amazingly blessed life. On September 1, 2018, God spoke once again closing her tenure here on earth at 9:50 a.m. at Pinemeadows Healthcare. She was surrounded by family.
She leaves to cherish her memory: a brother, Willie Murphy, Jr.; eight children, Lee L. Polk (Elena), Ruby Ruffin (Theodore), Joe Frank Polk (Doris), Robert Nelson Polk (Cleo), Helen Messenger (Glen), Thomas Polk (Mammie), Shirley Dickerson (Luzon), Robert Benny Polk (Ruth); twenty-six grandchildren; fifty-nine great grandchildren; a host of great-great grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Aggie Lewis; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Called before Mrs. Rosie’s tenure were grandchildren: Andrewnetta Polk, Cheryl Ruffin Thomas, Baby Elijah Neely, Almeko Woods, and Victor Robinson; grand daughter-in-law, Linda Ruffin and special son-in-law, Theodore Ruffin.
We all loved her, but God loved her best.

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