Bernice Pauline "Polly" Watts Ray

March 12, 1924 - February 2, 2022

Bernice Pauline "Polly" Watts Ray, 97 of Mt. Olive AL peacefully passed away on February 2, 2022 at Hanceville Nursing & Rehab where she was a resident since October, 2020. She was born March 12, 1924 in Cullman, AL to James Theodore Watts and Vella Mae Whatley Watts. She has been a Christian since age 13. She graduated from Holly Pond High School. She attended college at Florence States Teachers College (now UNA) in Florence, AL and Sacred Heart College in Cullman, AL. She was an elementary school teacher at Providence School in Cullman County from 1943 to 1954. She retired in 1986 after 17 years as a church secretary at Vinesville Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL. She was a current member at First Baptist Church of Mt. Olive and loved her church family and friends. She was a loving wife, mother and mawmaw and a wonderful life example. She loved nothing more than having her family all together. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 67 years Johnnie Myron Ray, three brothers, Junior Watts, Bill Watts and Jack Watts, as well as her sister Glenda Watts Bates. She is survived by daughters Kay (Keith) Stepp and Lesa (James) Harden; grandchildren, Bart (Carolyn) Roberts, Alison Roberts Johnson, Luke Harden, Dana (Jimmy) Stegall, Keith Stepp Jr., and Cayce (Amber) Stepp; nine great grandchildren. Sister-in-laws Helen Watts, Glenda Watts and Darlene Ray and a host of nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the amazing CNA's, Nurses and staff on the Honeysuckle Unit at Hanceville Nursing & Rehab Center for the loving care you showed our mother and grandmother during her stay there. Funeral Service will be held at Gardendale Heritage Funeral Home on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 1:00 pm with burial at Mt. Olive Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm prior to the service. Officiating the service will be her son-in-law James Harden. Pallbearers will be grandsons and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Mt. Olive, Mexico Mission Program, 3200 Mt. Olive Rd., Mt. Olive AL 35117 Please practice social distancing and wear masks.