Polly Faye Grant

Polly Faye Grant of Baltimore, Maryland, passed away on April 15, 2024, after complications from pneumonia.

Polly went by her middle name, Faye, but her church friends nicknamed her “Fayeth” (pronounced like Faith), because of her faithfulness.

Faye was born in 1939, in North Carolina, USA. Because her father was in the armed services, her family moved frequently. Two favorite places where her family was stationed were Guam and Anchorage, Alaska. She graduated from high school in Anchorage before commencing her working years.

Faye met Errol Grant in the early 1960s. They married in 1964, and had two daughters, Lois and Kathy.

One of Faye’s joys in life was running the mailroom for her church in South Berwick, Maine. When the church moved to Massachusetts a few years later, she and her family relocated there as well.

In Massachusetts, she continued to run the church mailroom. She considered it a great honor to keep missionaries connected to their home base. She prayed for them often, frequently adding little notes of encouragement along with their mail. In Massachusetts, Faye also ran a small snack bar that she set up in her mailroom to make extra income. Her carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and chocolate whoopie pies were famous, and she regularly received requests for both. Forty years later, her confections are still remembered fondly, but more importantly, folks still talk about how faithful, thoughtful, and loving she was, and how she always encouraged them.

Faye and Errol divorced in the mid-1980s. Later, when the church relocated to Maryland, Faye oversaw the Massachusetts mailroom closure, then moved to Baltimore with her daughter Kathy. Lois followed later with Faye’s first grandchild, Leah.

Faye enjoyed going to church in Baltimore, but her mailroom days were over. She began a job at Kmart and worked as a cashier for many years to support her family. Ever faithful, Faye often went out of her way to brighten people’s day. While she made many friends at Kmart, she made one lifelong friend, Darlene.

In 2003, Faye suffered from a stroke, then moved in with Kathy and her son-in-law, Lyle. She spent her time putting together jigsaw puzzles, reading, doing word-searches, and watching television. She even tried to enjoy a dog biscuit or two (a misunderstanding that she has laughed about with us many times over the years). She flew every year, for many years to Missouri to visit her daughter Lois and her family.

Faye transitioned to long-term care in 2014. To avoid confusion, she answered to her legal first name of Polly. She quickly collected nicknames like Polly Pocket, Pollywog, and Polly Wolly. She became a favorite of the workers, laughing at everything and participating in all activities (especially bingo). She enjoyed the Sunday services conducted at the nursing home. Although she couldn’t speak well because of her stroke, when a hymn was sung, she would always jump right in with no problems. Another favorite activity at the facility was Ageless Activities with Roy. Roy entertained the residents with stories, songs, and jokes. After all was said and done, Faye’s final years were content. She made friends and filled the building with laughter and good cheer. Faye’s lifelong friend Darlene also kept Faye’s spirits up with calls, cards, visits, gifts, and fun photo opportunities. She would tell her, “Kmart chicks rule!” express her love, and affirm that God had put them together. Darlene was Faye’s steadfast friend to the end.

Polly Faye passed away peacefully in her sleep, with family around her. She is predeceased by her ex-husband, Errol Grant; her father, Robert O’Dell Williams; her mother, Mattie Byrd; her stepmother, Midge; and her siblings, Doris Baysden, Cecil Williams, Lois Martens, Tressie May “Chip” Shadday, Glen Williams, and Brenda Gray. She is survived by her sisters, Carolyn Knutson and Peggy Bollinger; brother, Gary Williams; stepsister, Fran; daughters, Lois Eighmy and Katherine Fuller; grandchildren, Leah Shove and Eric Shofe; and great grandchildren: Cyrus, Jaxon, and Colton (Leah’s kids), and Josiah, Landon, and Liam (Eric’s kids).

Thank you to everyone who has remembered and asked about Faye over the years. We also wish to extend a grateful, heartfelt thanks to the staff at Lorien Bulle Rock, who tirelessly and so obviously care for those in their charge. Thank you for looking after Polly so faithfully.

There will be a celebration of Polly Faye’s life on Saturday, April 27, from 5:00 to 6:00 PM at the Epicenter in Edgewood (1918 Pulaski Hwy, Edgewood, MD). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you either: • Send a note of encouragement and some probably much-needed monetary support to a missionary from your church (or a church in your area), or • Visit a nursing home to encourage folks (both residents and workers) or volunteer your time. Workers are often overlooked; residents are often forgotten—but they are all awesome! Everyone has a unique story and a unique personality, deserving to be loved and appreciated.

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