Wanda Pauline "Polly" Pollock

Wanda Pauline “Polly” Pollock, 83 of Zephyrhills, Florida departed this earth the evening of Friday February 6, 2026, at her home surrounded by family.

Born October 13, 1942, at home, in a holler, known as Long Hollow, of Eastern Appalachia, Dykes, Kentucky. Born to Harlen and Stella Bradley, she was one of nine children that grew up rural, working on the family tobacco farm, poor without even knowing they were, sheltered by very basic means of the times, baptized in the river, and well loved.

Polly graduated from Burnside High School. Soon after, she was working at Finley’s Drive-In restaurant in Somerset, KY. Polly’s desire was to become an airline stewardess. Before, she could make that happen, she caught the attention of a dashing, handsome military man who was in town on a training assignment. She went with him back to base in North Carolina where they married and started a family. Over time, they moved to Zephyrhills, where she spent the rest of her life loving her growing family and her community. She was well known for her welcoming spirit to everyone from co-workers at Zephyr Egg Co. to those whom she met over the years through her and Tom’s business at Gill’s Garage and their many friendships.Together they enjoyed NASCAR including traveling and setting up camp in the infield to many races in their customized Bill Elliott race bus. She loved the NFL and was a diehard Miami Dolphins fan. . She held many yard-sales, whether raising money for a cause or just giving more than caring about making money. She seemed to always know who needed something and if it came her way, she held onto it until she could give it. She was a homesteader well before the term was popular. Her green thumb could root and grow any plant that touched her hands and she enjoyed canning & preserving and passing that skill down to her grandchildren. Lastly, known for being the gracious host to many very memorable gatherings at the “Garage”, and always ready to feed anyone that came for a visit. If you have ever had her, on the stove top, cast iron-made corn bread, which measurements were never used, you know you have never had any better!

Polly is predeceased by her parents, siblings: Gelea Nichols, Delno Bradley, Clifton “Kip” Bradley, Ed Bradley, Ruby Miller, and Patricia Smiley; her son, Stephen Pollock, Sr, and her life-long partner, Tom Gill, Sr.

She is survived by brothers: Dennis Bradley of South Jordan, Utah and Harlen Wayne Bradley (Leslie) of Winchester, KY; her sons: James “Bill” Pollock (Angelique) of Venice, FL, Tommy Gill (Tammy) of Zephyrhills, Roy Allen Franklin (Pauli) of Zephyrhills, FL and daughter, LaNita Michelle Fortenberry (Brian) of Richmond, KY. Grandchildren: Stephen Pollock, Jr, Shelbie Pollock (Lauren), James “Billy” Pollock II, Dillon Gill (Ashley), and many others who knew her best as “Nana”.

If any dictionary needed a new word to exceed a combined meaning of unselfish and generous, it would be, “Ms. Polly.”

Please come with your memories and stories as we celebrate her life on Saturday February 14, 2026, 4pm at “The Garage” of 23rd and North ~ 6010 23rd Street Zephyrhills.

Cards and flowers can be delivered to The Pollock Family at 6010 23rd St. Zephyrhills, Fl 33542. The greatest gift you can give, that she would be most proud of is, to pay it forward.