PAUL JOSEPH POLAND

Paul Poland, 86, began his new eternity November 11, 2019.  He lived a life dedicated to Christ and to family. We will miss his ready smile, his words of wisdom and encouragement, and those twinkling blue eyes. Paul epitomized grace, love, service and courage. He unflinchingly made sacrifices for family and friends and asked for very little but was eager to provide support and offer a helping hand or a kind word.   
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Lucy Elizabeth Poland, sisters Blanche Thomas, Pauline James, Margaret Poland, and brother Tommy Poland, and by his wife of 38 years, Clara, whom he loved wholeheartedly, and his family is comforted knowing that they are reunited.
Paul was the first in his family to be graduated from college, the University of Chattanooga. He passed his belief in the importance of education along to his family and was proud of their every accomplishment. Paul ministered for many years at Liberty Church of Christ and later returned to attending Whitwell Church of Christ where he continued his work for the Lord by teaching class and sharing beautiful prayers.  

He would tell you being influential in leading others to Christ was his proudest accomplishment, and he continued to be an example to others in how he lived his life and how he died with strength, dignity, and peace. Paul also had an incredible work ethic outside the ministry, never retiring, but being laid-off at age 78 from his job of 60 years with Chattanooga Group, and he was delighted to find he was eligible for unemployment benefits as he left that workplace. 
He leaves behind to grieve his loss and rejoice in Heaven’s gain, his daughters, Pamela Poland (Bob Amis), Paula Poland (Russell Linnemann), and his bonus children whom he loved dearly, Clifford (Tammy) Thomas and Melissa Thomas (Tommy Morrow), from whom he gained even greater gifts in his grandchildren, Maretha Rollins, Hannah Coley, Chance Rollins, Kendall Thomas and great grandchildren Audrey Flanders, Carsyn Coley, and Hadley Coley.
Special thanks to Chattanooga Kidney Center Hwy 58, DCI Jasper, and to Hearth Hospice who assisted our family after Dad’s decision to stop dialysis; to the staff of Amedisys healthcare who kept him moving and motivated the last 18 months of his life; and to our family of caregivers throughout his illness, Helen Snyder, Suzi Jones Reece, Clarissa Parker, Tessa Smith, Barbara Hancock, Rosa Wayne, Jeanette Austin, and all others who helped with his care over the years, including those early morning dialysis drives (Karen Smith and Hannah Thomas)!  
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fortify Your Faith, Potter Children's Home, or Cal Farley's Boys Ranch.
Family will receive friends 5-8PM, Central time, Thursday, November 14, 2019; 12-8PM, Friday, November 15, 2019.
Funeral services will be at 11AM, Saturday, November 16, 2019 in the funeral home chapel with Minister Adam Boggess officiating.  Interment at Sequatchie Valley Memorial Gardens in Jasper, TN.

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