On Saturday, June 20, 2009, over 120 friends and family celebrated the 90th birthday of Polly Ashby at the Northside Church of Christ’s activity center.

Pauline Gertrude Rainey was born to Alice and Hendricks (Henry) Rainey on June 22, 1919 near Corinth, MS.  In March 1939 she married T. L. Ashby and they had three children, Paula, Troy, and Marshall.  She and her husband lived in Boswell, Oklahoma for 60 years and in 2000 she moved to Bonham to be closer to her children.

When anticipating her move to the “big” town of Bonham, Polly was concerned that she wouldn’t know anyone or have any friends.  Within a month she knew as many people as she did in Boswell.  She never meets a stranger!

Polly, also known as Grannyma, loves to laugh, grow her flowers, imitate Minnie Pearl, quilt at the Bonham SNAP Center (she calls it going to work), and attend church services at the Northside church of Christ, where she is a member. 

Celebrating her birthday with her were her children, Paula and Melvin Brown, Troy and Bettie Ashby, and Marshall and Debbie Ashby, 7 of her grandchildren, 11 of her great-grandchildren, and a host of other family and friends.

Polly is still on “cloud 9” and wants everyone to know how much she enjoyed her special day!