FRANKLIN - Mary Pauline (Polly) Rice Brooks entered into eternal rest to join our Savior in heaven on Dec. 1, 2020 at the age of 87.
She was born on July 24, 1933 in Highlands to the late Mr. and Mrs. William Herbert Rice. She moved to Florida at the age of 5 and later returned to the mountains to retire.
Polly is survived by her husband of 67 years, Joseph Richman (Rich) Brooks Jr.; her brother, the Rev. Herbert Warren Rice (Bette) of Locust, North Carolina; and her children, Joseph Richman Brooks III (Sharon) of Franklin, Christina Brooks Hoeffner (Raymond) of Fort Pierce, Florida and Kathryn Brooks Hyams (Jimmy) of Charleston, South Carolina.
Surviving her also are 11 grandchildren, Jacob Brooks (Misty), Elizabeth Padgett (Shawn), Jeremy Brooks (Kira), Cody Brooks (Lulu), Candace Wickham (Jay), Christina Floyd (Graham), Shari Orr (Brian), Adam Hoeffner, Clayton Hyams (Naomi), Amy Bearden (Hunter) and Ashley Grace Hyams; and nine great -grandchildren, Kanisha Brooks, Ean Brooks, Kylie Brooks, Jonah Brooks, Nick Padgett, Tyler Padgett, Emma Wickham, Cole Wickham and Grayson Floyd. She was preceded in death by her great-granddaughter, Macy Tate Brooks. Polly also had many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Polly was a wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. She also worked as the daycare director and church secretary of First Baptist Church of Port St. Lucie, Florida. She loved to do needlework, work on crossword puzzles and to cheer on the New York Yankees.
Polly was a devout Christian who served our Lord by being a Sunday school teacher, Sunday school director, women’s Bible study leader and church pianist. She also sang in the choir. Her favorite Bible verse was 1 Peter 5:7: He careth for you.