Obituary of Pauline "Polly" Fuqua

Pauline “Polly” Arnold Fuqua, 97, with family at her side, quietly passed from this world into the glories of heaven on June 14.  There, after a near 37-year earthly separation, she joined her beloved spouse Victor B. Fuqua.

She is survived by her daughter, Paula Alexander-Sucher (Charles), her son Daniel P. Fuqua (Jane Harrod) and son David A. Fuqua (Martha); also, six grandchildren – Joseph Alexander, Mark Alexander, Rebecca Henderson, Kelly Fuqua, Emily Crossfield and Jennifer Fuqua; and five great-grandchildren – Kaylin Hatchell, Natalie Hatchell, Mason Alexander, Maximus Alexander and step great-grandchildren Ciara, Will and Ethan Henderson. Polly also leaves behind one brother-in-law and many nephews and nieces.

Besides her spouse, she was preceded in death by her parents Will Sandford and Mary Ellen “Daisy” Arnold and all six of her siblings – Ila Henkel, Ann Cain, Davis Arnold, William Arnold, H.H. “Jack” Arnold and Virginia Apple.

Born March 23, 1920 in Yadkin County, North Carolina, on and near farmland settled by ancestors some 200 years previously, she was truly a member of the Greatest Generation.  She came of age during the Great Depression.  Following high school graduation, she became a cosmetologist, and her education included special hair styling techniques learned in New York City.  She was working in Charlotte, NC during WW11 where she first met and later married Victor on December 27, 1945.  Following his discharge from US Army Air (the present-day US Air Force), they relocated to Bowling Green, KY so he could use the GI Bill to attend Western, while she helped support them by working at a local beauty shop.  They later acquired a farm in Breckinridge County and intended to live the rest of their lives there, until a severe drought in the early 1950’s and a growing family called for a change of plans.  Although they managed to hang onto that farm, Victor accepted a position at the Kentucky State Department of Health in the mid-1950’s. They settled in Frankfort in 1962, and Polly eventually acquired Eastwood Beauty Walk in the mid 1960’s, at its original location in the shopping center by that name. Polly was the consummate business woman and people person.  Her business grew because of her savviness and warm, welcoming demeanor, no matter a person's social status. Most of her customers and shop operators became good friends over the years. 

While Polly worked diligently outside the home, she was also a devoted mother and marvelous, creative cook. She routinely turned out a large tray of made-from-scratch “cathead” biscuits and plopped them on a round oak table with her pear preserves, fried chicken and other comfort food.  The Juniper Hills house was a beehive for her children and their friends and later, for her grandchildren and their friends.  She also loved her phone and if she did not hear from family and friends as she thought she should, she would call them.  More than once, she would find her portable landline phone in her apron pocket when on jaunts with her family to Anderson County. She came from generations of farmers and retained a love of the land.

Polly always served her Lord as best she knew.  She was very proud that ancestors had helped found Baptist, Methodist and Quaker churches in North Carolina.  She eventually joined and for many years attended Frankfort’s First United Methodist Church.  More importantly, she lived the Word by helping others, even opening her home for months to someone displaced from their own, with nowhere else to turn.  Until macular degeneration took its toll, she daily read her Bible (several well-worn ones have been left with family). A great joy was to have a full family pew on Sundays. Perhaps her greatest legacy is the passing of that love of The Lord on to family and others.

Rogers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be held there from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, June 19. A funeral service will be held at the First United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 20, followed by internment in the family plot at the Frankfort Cemetery. Dr. Phil Hill, senior pastor at FUMC, will preside. Pallbearers will be Mark Alexander, Josh Anthis, Patrick Henderson, Guy Kessler, Joey Phillips, and Paul Sullivan.

The family would like to acknowledge with deep appreciation Hospice of the Bluegrass. Friends so desiring are encouraged to celebrate her memory through any methods of generosity and acts of kindness they may choose, to the charity of their choice.  Polly herself favored her church and the local Food Pantry, and was very grateful for her Hospice care.