Mary Pauline "Polly" Green Cleveland

Polly Cleveland, 93, went to be with her Lord and Savior during  the early hours of August 6th. God in His mercy comforted Polly through  all her pains and struggles; His angels came during the night and  carried her home.

Mary Pauline was born as the eldest  child to Philo & Inez Hortense (nee Helderman) Green on March 30,  1931. She fondly remembered growing up in the mill town of Lowell, NC.  When her mother and daddy were at work in the mill, she was charged to  get her younger brothers, Laverne and Reg, fed and off to school. The  boys always wanted oatmeal, yet SHE was the one stuck cleaning the pot  before school! It was a long time before she would eat oatmeal! Despite  her small stature, Polly was on the girls’ basketball team at Lowell  High where she graduated. Her brother recalls that she was always  well-liked by her classmates. 

In 1951, she married Don Cleveland,  from Ranlo, and followed his naval career with multiple moves between  San Diego, Jacksonville, Pensacola, Memphis (and sometimes back again),  coming back to Charlotte each time Don was deployed. Needless to say,  Polly held many different jobs in addition to being a wife and mom. When  Don retired from the Navy, the family of six settled in on Rhyne Rd. A  permanent address (60 years) allowed Polly to begin her career at  BellSouth, make lifelong friends, and retire in 1996 from the accounting  department.

Polly always loved her family. A cousin wrote that  “she was one of my best friends, as well as my cousin”. Her brother  writes “she was a wonderful sister to have grown up with and she was  always there for her family and friends - no matter what.” She was a  resilient woman, often a single parent raising 3 sons and a daughter  while Don was deployed on one of the many six-to-eight-month cruises.  Being all of 4’ 11”, it didn’t take long before each of the boys towered  over her, but they all knew that Polly was always in charge. That being  said, she was loving and could handle it when accidents, injuries and  illnesses occurred. She was the type of woman who leaned on the kitchen  counter while the family ate around the table. In her mind, this was  easier than hopping up and down to meet their needs. The family enjoyed  traveling, whether it be the beach, the mountains, camping, or a return  visit to Pensacola Fl. Her door was always open when more than one of  her children or other family members needed a home for a period of time.  As her family grew to include grandchildren, Polly made trips to visit  those that lived out of town or met their parents half-way so the  grandkids could visit. As her parents aged, she was there for them.  After her father died, she became the primary caregiver for her mother,  going to the grocery store, bringing meals, taking her to doctor visits,  helping pay the bills, but most importantly, being a friend who visited  and talked every day. Polly was a great in-law and mother-in-law. She  was always loving and never wanted to be the reason for any conflict. 

Polly  loved life. Every person warranted respect, regardless of background,  race, position or bank account. She might not agree with your politics  or the choices you made, but she was always kind and loving. She enjoyed  reading and basically collected hundreds of books and magazines. Her  yard was filled with jonquils, daffodils, azaleas, violets, and plants  of all kinds. She and Don even grew and sold herbs from the backyard.  She said she couldn’t kill a jade plant if she tried. A deer showing up  in her back yard warranted a photo even when she was in her 80’s!

Above  all else, Polly loved her Lord. And to her, loving her Savior meant  that she showed her love. When we created a family birthday calendar, we  quickly determined that Polly needed her own version because of all the  many “other people” she needed to include so she could mail them a  birthday card or call them or both. Walking with the Lord also meant  service to her church, whether Shady Brook Baptist, Carolina Christian,  or Mulberry Baptist. She was involved in the kids’ ministry, the school  at Carolina Christian, the choir, and the homebound ministry to name a  few. After she chose to stop driving after dark, she helped with Awana  as long as someone chauffeured her. Polly was a woman of prayer, who  started her day in the sunroom, reading her Bible and praying for all  the many people that she loved and cared for. 

Polly is survived  by her children & their spouses: Don & Teresa (Emerald Isle),  Mark & Jo (Denver), Jonathan & Melinda (Kings Mountain) and  Joanie & Henry Camp (Denver, CO). Surviving grandchildren are David  (Raleigh), Ashley (FL), Gary & Lydia (Raleigh), Gabrielle (CO) and  Sofie (CO). She is also survived by her brother Laverne & Freda  Green (FL), brother-in-law Dan & Leona Cleveland (GA), and  sisters-in-law Tina Johnson (SC) & Rhonda Greene (KY). Surviving  great grandchildren are Judeah Abrianna, Michael, Dakotta, Roman,  Elijah, Xavery, and Emilee, great-greats Abrianna and Ki’mora, and  cousins, nieces, and nephews. When ‘steps’ joined the family, Polly was  quick to count them as her own - grandchildren: Billie & Jonathan  (Charlotte), Joseph & Patti (Concord), Ashton & John (Emerald  Isle), Melody & Kyle (AZ), & Matthew (Kings Mountain), greats:  Nicholas, Tristan, Parker, Zachery, Ben, Kade, and great-great: Carson.  Polly will be missed by many friends, including Patti Thomas, Bonita  Allison, Dolores Sprinkle, Danny Griffin and other Mulberry Baptist  members who were all faithful to her. In addition to her husband Don and  parents Philo & Inez Green, many loved ones greeted Polly at  Heaven’s gates, including granddaughter Emily, brother Reginald Greene,  and in-laws Gary & Carrie Cleveland, Bobbie Green and Walter  Johnson.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Brookdale  Robinwood Gastonia for their compassionate, loving care as Polly  declined since her arrival in 2022, Gaston Hospice and her many, many  friends who ministered to her by calling, visiting, sending cards, and  most importantly, praying for her. Our most sincere thanks to all these  angels on earth!

The family will receive friends from 11:00 am  until 1:00 pm on Thursday, August 15, 2024, at McLean Funeral Directors  of Gastonia (700 S New Hope Rd). A funeral service will follow at 1:00  pm in the Founders Chapel of McLean Funeral Directors with Kyle  Phillips, Pastor of Mulberry Baptist, officiating. Interment will follow  in Gaston Memorial Park.

While flowers are appreciated, if you  prefer to make a memorial contribution, please consider Mulberry Baptist  Church, 6450 Tuckaseegee Road, Charlotte, NC 28214, (704) 399-4500 or  Carolina Christian Ministries, 4500 West NC10, Newton, NC 28658, (704)  497-7126‬. Indicate in the memo line that your memorial is for Polly  Cleveland. ‬‬

Should you wish to mail a card, please send to The  Polly Cleveland Family, 404 Alan Drive, Kings Mountain, NC 28086. Also, condolence messages may be shared online at www.mcleanfuneral.com.  McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia is serving the Cleveland family. 

The life she lived is a testament to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“Absent from the body; present with the Lord.” (2 Cor 5:8)