Jody Wylie Pollan

The hand of GOD reached down and took an angel home. Jody Wylie Pollan (69) passed away on February 26th after a two year, spirited and courageous, battle fighting cancer.

Jody was born on May 10, 1947 to the late Madison and Mary Wylie in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia; she grew up in White Sulphur Springs and graduated from the local high school in 1965. After graduation, she worked at several local businesses including the Greenbrier Hotel, a sales position in the golf pro shop afforded her the opportunity to meet and make friends with numerous guests including Sam Snead, Paul Harvey and the Reverend Billy Graham.

Seeking opportunities for advancement, she and several friends moved to the Atlanta area in 1971. Jody initially managed apartment communities, but later found a rewarding career in the sales and marketing of wholesale gourmet food products. She excelled in her chosen field and managed the sales departments of several major Atlanta wholesale food operations; positions that often resulted in the establishment of lifetime friendships with many clients. Her expertise and abilities were recognized and respected within the entire food service industry. When she retired to become a devoted full time wife and homemaker Jody was Vice-President of Sales for a major gourmet food distributor servicing the white table cloth restaurants and hotels across the Southeastern states.

Jody met her future husband; James L. Pollan in 1982, a whirlwind romance followed, they married after only a few weeks. It was instant love and devotion for both; they remained partners during their thirty five year marriage every day and in every way. Truly a remarkable romance and marriage that was evident to everyone. Initially they established their home in Atlanta; but later moved to the shores of Lake Lanier, then to the current residence in Gainesville, Georgia. Jody took extreme pride in her family, the family homes, her many pets and loved her many friends in Gainesville; but also treasured spending summers at the family’s second home in Highlands, North Carolina.  She loved playing golf and gardening, talking with her friends, and taking long walks with he ever present rescued puppies and cat that she always referred to as her kids. Always a compassionate person that was aware and concerned for people less fortunate, Jody supported numerous charities; she also organized several fund raising events that benefited both local and national charities.

Jody made a tremendous impact on the lives of everyone she would meet; a kind, sincere, and warm personality was her greatest trait. She never met a stranger and most became instant friends; she made her friends feel like they were close family. During the period following her cancer diagnosis, the tremendous outpouring of love, support, get well cards, flowers and prayers from her friends was a genuine and sincere tribute to her remarkable life and personality.

Jody was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Kem Saarela; a former resident of Douglasville, Georgia. She is survived by her husband, James L. Pollan; step sons, James L. Pollan, III, Gainesville, Michael Wade Pollan and his wife Alicia, Dallas, Texas; two grandsons, Michael David Pollan, Dallas, Texas and Nicholas James Pollan, Cleveland, Georgia; her brother, Madison Wylie, Jr. Mechanicsville, Virginia and sister, Marsha Turner, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, other family members and friends who will always carry her memory in their hearts. She will be missed by everyone who knew her.

The family would like to acknowledge and express their gratitude to Dr. Frank Lake, Dr. Saloni Tanna, the Northeast Georgia Hospice Group and their respective staffs for the compassionate medical care they provided during her extended illness.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice.

The family will receive friends at the Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel on Thursday, March 2, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Memorial Park Funeral Home North Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Dr. Gainesville, GA  30504 is in charge of arrangements.

Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com