Kay Polk

POLK, Kay Louise

Kay Louise (Wise) Polk was born March 18, 1952, in Fremont, Ohio. She was the daughter of Joyce Louise (Sherer) Wise and Charles Edwin Wise. Kay graduated from Ashland College in Ashland, Ohio, earning a BS in Secondary Education with a major in English and was a member of the Kappa Nu Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an Honor Society in Education. Following graduation, she taught middle school English at Fremont Junior High School. Later, after a move to Hopkinsville, Kentucky, she continued her masters studies and served as a high school English teacher at Christian County High School.

In 1984 she and Jim, her husband of 44 years, moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she began teaching at The Lovett School as a 5th grade co-teacher for 23 years. She also tutored children in what was then known as The Learning Lab. Her passion for teaching was a constant in her life.

In 1980 following a serious illness, Kay received a kidney from her sister Kerry (Wise) Barth (a saint) at Ohio State University. That gift of life served her well for the rest of her life. She participated in Wellness Conferences held each year in Atlanta and served as a mentor in the Georgia Transplant Foundation, offering encouragement and support to others. Kay was one of the longest surviving kidney recipients -- over 45 years!

Kay and Jim enjoyed traveling and took many wonderful and interesting trips, one of which was a trip to Alaska where they participated in the 40th Anniversary Iditarod Dog Sled Race as Iditariders. They traveled 12 miles on a dog sled in the ceremonial start of the race in Anchorage, a unique and memorable experience.

Kay was Co-President of the Vinings Village Woman's Club from 2010 - 2012 and remained an active member for the rest of her life. She was also a member of the Vinings Historic Preservation Society and Vinings Civic Club. She loved music and was a talented pianist. She enjoyed playing weekly bridge and Mah Jongg with her friends. She was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

Kay was an optimistic, kind, graceful, and thoughtful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loved her family and friends and was deeply loved by everyone who knew her. She will be greatly missed by all those who were fortunate to have known this wonderful woman.

Her parents preceded her in death.

She is survived by her husband, Jim; daughter, Erin Louise Dixon (Ian Palmer), of Derwood, Maryland; stepchildren: Allen Polk (Laura), of Huntsville, Alabama, Chad Polk (Sims), of Nashville, Tennessee, and Lelia Davis (Deron), of Griffin, Georgia; sister, Kerry Barth (Tom), of Bellevue, Ohio; brothers, Roger Wise (Sandra), of Fremont, Ohio, and Matthew Wise, of Woodville, Ohio; six grandchildren: Will Davis, Matt Davis, Langley Polk, Charlotte Kay Dixon, Bentley Polk, Knox Polk; and one great-granddaughter, Ava Marie Davis.

A memorial service will be held Monday, December 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM in the Sanctuary at Trinity Presbyterian Church. Attendees are asked to add a pop of pink or purple to their attire in honor of Kay. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Kay's honor can be made to the National Kidney Foundation of Georgia.