Pauline "Polly" Dale

Funeral services were held Friday, September 16, 2011 at Prentiss Baptist Church in Prentiss, MS for Mrs. Pauline Givens Dale (Polly/Honey), age 93, of Prentiss, MS, who passed away September 14, 2011 at Jefferson Davis Community Hospital. Rev. Ben James and Rev. L. C. Anthony officiated. Pall bearers were Bill Whittington, Jeppie Rush, Greg Lee, John Davies, Kenneth Butler Jr. and Hiram Williams. Saulters Moore Funeral Home of Prentiss was in charge of all arrangements. Pauline Givens Dale was born on November 5, 1917 in Monticello, MS. Her parents were E. L. and Martha Givens. Her mother was 45 years old when she was born. Polly met her husband, Jimmie Dale, on a blind date. They fell in love and after months of courtship, they eloped and were married in Silver Creek. Friends witnessing the ceremony were Shorty Mikell, who was on crutches due to an accident, and Tater Polk, a good friend of Polly's. After the ceremony, Polly went back home to Monticello, and Jimmie went back to Prentiss. It was two weeks later before they saw each other again. The marriage was kept a secret until Polly started telling her friend, Lucille Bufkin, how serious she was about Jimmie. Lucille got so excited and told Polly they should start planning a wedding. At this point, Polly and Jimmie knew they would have to start telling everyone they were married. Mrs. Givens (Big Mama) stayed in bed for two weeks after hearing of their elopement. To their union, four children were born-- Mary Martha Dale, James Louis (Jim) Dale, Jr., Robert Givens (Bob) Dale, and Charles Carrol (Charlie) Dale. Polly and Jimmie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a celebration at Prentiss Baptist Church. They enjoyed the event because they hadn't had a real wedding. Jimmie Dale went all over Jackson looking for just the right suit and tie. For many years, Polly enjoyed caring for her children in their home on John Street. It was a good thing that she enjoyed cooking, because when she made homemade biscuits, she made 20 at a time. With three boys, sports were a big thing. One Friday, the coaches asked the parents to prepare a meal of roast, potatoes, and vegetables. Polly cooked the meal, and then left the house for a while. When she came home, one of her sons had invited six other football players to eat. Needless to say, there wasn't any food left. The coach couldn't figure out why some of his players were so very sick with a stomach ache. Polly was an active member of Prentiss Baptist Church. She taught GAs, Sunday school, and was on various committees. She was a charter member of the Twentieth Century Club of Prentiss and was a past president. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was involved with the PTA, also serving as their president. She said she had no talent, but those who knew her, knew that wasn't true. She was an avid seamstress who made many clothes for her children. She made a wool suit for her daughter to wear to the Gas Bowl Parade and ballgame. She loved all types of needlework, and spent hours using her talent to make gifts for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Especially noted are the Christmas stockings and Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls she made. Polly loved the holidays, and her family gathered every year for her Thanksgiving dinner. Tables were set up all over the house, decorated with fall colors, to accommodate her ever growing family. Her home at Christmas was quite a show as she displayed her villages and collection of over one-hundred nutcrackers. She enjoyed giving gifts to her great grandchildren. Special love and care was placed in each and every gift as they were wrapped and placed under the tree, and she was delighted to watch them all receive their gifts and open them. Pauline Dale, our Honey, leaves many wonderful memories. Her Christian life was quite evident as she went about each day expressing her love and concern for others. She didn't just ask to help in any way she could; she DID! She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Martha and E. L. Givens of Monticello; a sister, Grace Givens Ball of Yazoo City; brothers, Sheep Givens of Monticello, Kenneth Givens and Roy Givens both of Jackson, and Wayne Givens of Louisville, Kentucky; her son Charlie Dale of Prentiss. She is survived by her children, Mary Martha and Carrol Berry of Prentiss, Jim and Janice Dale of Hattiesburg, and Bob Dale of Prentiss; her grandchildren, Renee and Joseph Kerley of Sumrall, Shannon and Darren Clark of Prentiss, Amanda and Josh Teater of Magee, Jim Bob and Aimee Dale of Magee, Mary Carol and Brent Lindley of Petal, Keith and Leslie Dale of Jackson, Mary Ann and Jason Childress of Magee, Carl Dale of Houston, Texas, Charlie and Desiree Dale of Prentiss, Todd and Coleen McGee of Biloxi; her great-grandchildren, Madeline and Jolee Kerley; Mary Ashley and Macy Kate Lindley; Anna McGee; Isabella and Riley Clark; Zach, Banks, Nash and Landrey Teater; Clayton, Ann Sheree and Colby Childress; Kennedy, Marlee and Paxton Dale; Katelyn and Brayden Dale.