Azalea Best

Azalea Best, 87, a Pensacola, Florida resident, went to meet her Lord and Savior on December 25, 2022. She was born in Conway, South Carolina but spent most of her adult life in Pensacola. She was affectionately known as Polly to family and friends.
Polly was the fourth of twelve children. Growing up, she worked hard on the farm and around the house helping to raise and care for her siblings. Although Polly grew up poor, she was a generous and sharing person. Polly loved music and eventually learned to play the organ and dulcimer. She was a member of the Dogwood Dulcimer Association and enjoyed traveling to various venues with the group to play and share her unique singing voice. Polly also loved to dance. As a young woman, she especially enjoyed jitterbugging and later in life learned to line dance. Polly was a dedicated bowler for many years and her numerous trophies attested to her skill. She even burned up her car engine on the way to a league match once. The check oil light came on but, refusing to be late for the match, she continued to the bowling alley. Polly also played church league softball. She practiced until she earned the coveted position of pitcher and proved to be a formidable opponent on the mound. Polly was a huge fan of professional wrestling all of her life. She attended local matches over the years and never missed wrestling on TV. On rare occasion, she would admit that some of it might be fake but the majority of the time she was convinced that it was all real. Polly also enjoyed watching horror movies - the scarier the better.
Polly was confident, competent, and creative at DIY. She could do pretty much anything that she set her mind to. She could fix a leaky toilet, build a sidewalk and planter box with concrete and bricks, and repurpose items with tremendous skill and ingenuity. Polly was a wonderful cook who enjoyed and took pride in sharing her efforts with family and friends. She was also an imaginative cook who once made a Spam and pineapple salad - since ham and pineapple pair nicely. Unfortunately, in that instance, requests for her to never repeat the dish were numerous. Polly was a skilled seamstress and made many of her and her children's clothes for years. Later in life she returned to the art of quilting - having learned it growing up. She made and gifted many beautiful quilts. She also spent countless hours crocheting afghans for family and friends. Polly was happiest outdoors. She was an avid flower gardener and consummate green thumb. She could grow anything and loved to share her flowers with others.
Polly was a strong and independent woman. Those attributes served her well as a military spouse. She served her family, community, and country with devotion and pride. Her strength of character allowed her husband, Joseph, to focus on his military career, including a tour in Viet Nam, knowing that their home and children were in capable hands. Polly loved the Lord and her church family. After each move, she prioritized finding a new church to worship and serve in. She is currently a member of Gateway Baptist Church.
Polly was preceded in death by husband Joseph Best, son Ted Best, granddaughter Tracy Burmeister, and grandson John Burmeister. She is survived by daughters Sarah Frank and Martha Nowicki, daughter-in-law Terri Best, and eleven grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be buried in Barrancas National Cemetery with Joseph. Memorials can be sent in her honor to Gateway Baptist Church, PO Box 1066, Cantonment, FL, 32533.