Pauline "Polly" Ward Sistrunk

      A graveside service for Mrs. Pauline Sistrunk will be held at Mission Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Wesson, MS, on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at 2:30 p.m., with Rev. Justin Knight officiating services. A brief visitation will be held in the church sanctuary beginning at 2:00 p.m.

      Pauline “Polly” Ward Sistrunk was born on June 17, 1925, to Homer and Mamye (Shamburger) Ward of the Mission Hill community in Lincoln County, MS. She was the second of their four daughters, and she graduated from Heucks Retreat School in 1943. Polly married Douglas Harris, Jr. in 1947 and together they had one daughter, Debbie. The Harris family lived for many years in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. Douglas worked as a ticket agent for Amtrak while Polly was a bookkeeper with Nabisco for 10 years and the payroll supervisor for Schwegmann’s grocery stores for 30 years. After Douglas passed away, Polly was married to Yammon “Lefty” Sistrunk. They built a home outside of Newport, TN, where she continued to live for many years, even after Lefty’s death. For 10 years, she enjoyed keeping the books and interacting with guests at Venture Out RV Park in Cosby, TN. In 2006, she moved to be close to her daughter and granddaughter in Lauderdale County, MS.

     Polly and Douglas were charter members of Edgewater Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA, and she was currently a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church in Meridian, MS. She was a dedicated member and officer in the Lions Clubs International in both Meridian, MS, and Newport, TN, where she served as president. Polly was awarded Lion of The Year by both clubs. She loved working together with others to be a help and a blessing to her community.

     After a long and healthy life, Pauline Sistrunk passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian, MS, following a short illness. She was 99 years old.  

    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Douglas Harris, Jr.; her husband, Yammon “Lefty” Sistrunk; her sisters, Carolyn Warren (Alton), Marie Gaston (John), and Betty Jo Peters (Howard). 

     She is survived by her daughter, Debbie Barker (Clifford); her granddaughter, Rachel Knight (Justin); and her great-grandson Duncan Knight; as well as beloved nieces, nephews and extended family.

     In lieu of flowers, it was Polly’s desire that donations be directed to Mission Hill Baptist Church of Wesson, MS, or The Lions Club of Meridian, MS. 

    The staff of Webb & Stephens Funeral Homes is grateful for the opportunity to honor Polly’s life and memory and to serve her loving family during this time.