Elsie (Mckinney) Ward Poland

Funeral services for Elsie (McKinney) Ward Poland will be held Friday, August 7, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor David Valentine and Pastor Troy Christmas officiating. Interment will follow in the Walker Cemetery in Redland. Immediately following the graveside services, Redland Baptist Church will host a luncheon in the fellowship hall. Elsie was born July 3, 1918 in Angelina County, Texas. She passed peacefully in the loving arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, August 3, 2015, at the age of 97, at Castle Pines in Lufkin where she resided for over 5 years. She was a lifelong resident of Redland, Texas and Angelina County except for years spent in Mt. Enterprise. While growing up in Redland, Texas she claimed the title of being the first cheerleader at the Redland School, Redland, Texas. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a proud member of the Redland Baptist Church since 1959. She knew the Lord was her Savior and loved reading the scriptures and loved her Sunday School Class, church socials, spending time with family and friends and even making a few quilt tops in her spare time. In her younger days she worked at the Redland Café, J.C. Penney’s (Downtown Lufkin) and was the clerk/cashier at the Angelina Hotel in its “hey day”. Hobbies were dominos, which she was keen at (especially 42) and would live for the Charlie Wilson’s Domino Tournaments, as Charlie hosted them all across East Texas. If you knew her, she also liked any type of card games as well. Her favorite sport was fishing when her health permitted it and she was good at it. She was honored that her sons and grandsons honorably served this great country. God, patriotism, and the love of her country defined her way of life. She made the local news when she cast her vote for the 1st Black President of the United States, being one of the oldest registered voters who actually went to the Courthouse that election year in Angelina County, carried to vote there by her devoted son, Johnny Mack Ward. She was a registered voter until her death. She was VERY proud of her help, along with her friends and their accomplishments in the first complete cleaning of the Walker Cemetery, Redland, Texas; The Walker Cemetery Association and its designation as a historical cemetery. Her life motto was simple: Happiness is yours for the giving. She was preceded in death by parents; husband, Jimmy Poland; sister, Hazel Bowers; son, Gerald Ward; and grandson, David Ward. Left to grieve, but not mourn, are sons; Johnny Mack Ward and wife Velda and Paul Ward; sister, Marjorie Hudson and Quida Ward, wife of Gerald Ward. She has many grandchildren, great grandchild and great-great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Mario Danna, Kyle Ward, Jimmy Ray Kendrick, Larry Monday, Ronnie Kirkland and Fred Walker. Honorary pallbearers will be Arden Jenkins and Joe Spangler. The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home. Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com. Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.