Emily Pauline Hale Dryden, age 101, went to be with Daddy, Monday night at 7:10 p.m.., Dec. 7, 2020. We are sad for our loss, but we have JOY in the Heaven’s gain. Her grandson held her hand, and her granddaughter and great-granddaughter were singing, “Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is Calling,”, as they traveled to be here.
The Heavenly Angels are rejoicing! God is pleased. May the Holy Spirit comfort each of our 150 Member Family.
I will always cherish the memories of how everyone pitched in to help me give Mama the big, beautiful 100th birthday party that she so deserved!
“Polly,” as she was so affectionately called, was on this earth 101 years and 8 months!
She was born on March 26, 1919. She worked hard for over 80 years. She cooked three big “from scratch” meals every day for our family of eight! Mama was a faithful wife to my Daddy. This is a sad/happy (coined by John Paul James Payne, her youngest grandson) time of year, as Daddy passed on to Heaven on December 28, 2001. And my Daddy was not the easiest person to get along with, although he worked hard himself and provided for our hard working family. We never went hungry for sure!
Mama and Daddy made sure we were up and dressed for school five days a week and insisted we do our very best to our potential, always! Even on Sunday morning, Mama got up and cooked a large breakfast before Sunday School and Church services. They raised all of us 6 kids to love the Lord Jesus Christ and worship the God of our salvation! Thank you Mama and Daddy for ALL you did for us!
-Patsy
Mrs. Dryden is predeceased by her husband, William Quinton Dryden (September 19, 1919–December 28, 2001); daughter, Mary Rebecca “Becky” Dryden Gallagher; granddaughter, Deanna Felicia Payne; greatgrandson, Cole Matthew Rutherford; and grandson, Kyle Dryden; her parents, John and Utha Hale; brothers: Willard Hale, William Hale and infant James Teaford Hale; sisters: Bethana Mae Rye, Elizabeth Linton, Dorothy Allbritton Kinard; many brothers-in-love and sisters-in-love of the Dryden and Hale families; and many other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Dryden is survived by three sons: John William “Bill” Dryden; Joseph Kenneth “Ken” Dryden (Mary); Donald Quinton “Don” Dryden (Bridgitt); two daughters: Patricia Ann “Patsy” Dryden Payne Welch; Edith Elaine Terry (Richard); son-in-law: John Gallagher; brother, Eddie Hale (Kathryn); and sister, Vera Bass.
Pauline is also survived by 22 grandchildren: Cyndi Simmons, Sean Gallagher, Teresa Miller, Heidi Gallagher, Tim Gallagher, Nathan Gallagher, Ronnie Payne, Jr., Ginger Payne, Cassandra Nipper, John Paul Payne, Keith Dryden, Allen Dryden, Mike Dryden, Ernie Terry, Henry Terry, Joe Dryden, Brian Dryden, Pam Foster, Benji Dryden, Aaron Dryden, Lydia Holley and Esther Toussaint; 60 great-grandchildren; and 24 great-great-grandchildren; 36 family spouses; sister-in-love, Frances Dryden; Glenda Hale; hundreds of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and many friends. Polly was loved by everyone!
Visitation will be at Beggs Funeral Home in Madison, on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Services will be held at Midway Baptist Church, Lee on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, at 11 a.m., with interment following in the church cemetery.
Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, we are requesting that everyone wear a mask for our safety! Thank you.
Beggs Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements (850) 973-2258. You may send your condolences to the family by visiting beggsfuneral.com