Katherine Polk Creel

1922 - 2016

CREEL, Katherine Polk Katherine Polk Creel, 93, of Fayetteville departed this life February 6, 2016, following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 3:00 PM, McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville, GA, with Dr. David Chancey and Dr. J.W. Wallis officiating. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. A private family interment will follow the service. Lady Katherine Polk was born on October 19, 1922 in Vidalia, GA to Ima Dennis Polk and Grover Cleveland Polk. She grew up in Vidalia, Monticello and Atlanta, GA. Katherine was preceded in death by one sister, Mary Polk Marco (James) and four of her brothers, Earl Franklin Polk (Ethel), James Cleveland Polk (Billie), Joseph Seals Polk (Jackie), and Grover Carl Polk (Charlotte). Her youngest brother George Woodruff Polk (Ouida) survives her. In addition to her roles as a loving wife and mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, she managed the family business for many years and later in life became a successful lumber broker. She was widely admired for her lively intelligence, quick wit, creativity, culinary skills and generosity. Family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances and sometimes even strangers were always welcome at her dining table. Katherine married Theron Alton Creel, Sr. on March 28, 1942. Her devoted husband Theron died on March 3, 2003 just days shy of their fifty-ninth wedding anniversary. She is survived by her two sons and their wives, Theron Alton Creel, Jr. (Jan) and Steven Douglas Creel (Susan); and one daughter and her husband, Susan Creel Lawhorne (Tommy). Additional survivors include six grandchildren and their spouses: Cathy Creel, Cay Daniel, Randall Mealor (Lara), Gervaise Gerstner-Petersen (Gary), Thomas Lawhorne III (Claire), and Elle Creel; nine great-grandchildren and their spouses, Candy Feenan (Jason), Cooper Creel, Catherine Daniel, Christopher Daniel, Grace Gerstner, Olivia Gerstner, Everleigh Mealor, Thomas Lawhorne IV, and Julia Lawhorne; and one great-great-granddaughter, Emma Feenan. Survivors also include two step-grandchildren, Margaux Petersen and Meyer Petersen, numerous nieces and nephews, and devoted friend, Emory Holbrook. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial donation to McDonough Road Baptist Church, 352 McDonough Road, Fayetteville, GA 30214. Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville Chapel - www.mowellfuneralhome.com