Pamela Polk

Pamela Jacqueline Jones was born on March 3, 1958, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to her father, Irvin R. Jones and mother Betty Lou Parker Jones. Other than her place of birth, Jacqui had no familial connection to Tennessee. Her mother went into labor as she and her father were on their way to his next tour of duty in the Air Force. Jacqui’s father and mother found a hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, that accepted African-American patients, to bring Jacqui into this world. Jacqui adored her father. When her father sat at the head of the dinner table, Jacqui would often sit at his right hand. Being part of a military family meant relocating and changing schools almost every four years. In Spain, Jacqui attended a Spanish elementary school. (The Sisters at the school attempted to correct Jacqui’s preference for using her left hand by removing pencils from her left hand and putting them in her right hand. Jacqui would switch the pencils back to her left hand to write--Jacqui won the battle.) Jacqui attended middle school in Japan and attended East High School in Denver, Colorado. Jacqui was smart and energetic. She did well in school. She liked to read. In elementary school, she took violin and piano lessons. Jacqui liked sports. She played intramural basketball and softball. She was also a cheerleader at East High School. After high school Jacqui embarked on her career. She married Daniel K. Polk, gave birth to her son, Arik, and worked on her college degree. At work, Jacqui was dedicated. She was an early-riser and had an excellent work ethic. She liked the tax profession, but she was not too proud to draw on other skills she acquired throughout her career if she needed to bring extra money into her household. Jacqui joined softball and bowling leagues. She went camping. She coached cheerleaders. She ran the BolderBOULDER. She was committed to the annual Race for the Cure. She enjoyed watching the Denver Broncos on Sunday and, occasionally, a Colorado Rockies or Denver Nuggets game. But, Jacqui was Arik’s biggest fan. If a person looked in the stands at Arik’s high school and semi-professional wrestling matches, Jacqui was almost always there. Jacqui enjoyed taking in live theatre, musicals and ballets. Traveling was another one of her favorite past times. She would often take day trips to Las Vegas just for a change of scenery. Her annual trips to Disney World brought her great joy and good memories. Jacqui loved beautiful and feminine things. Her “Doll Room” was filled with a collection of dolls and parasols. Jacqui always had a song in her heart. A person could drop by her house anytime of the day and hear music playing or hear her singing. Jacqui liked being in the company of others. She planned and organized events with the precision of a military commander. Events were budgeted to the penny and she was punctual. She remembered birthdays and loved to celebrate accomplishments. She would happily go across town or fly across the country to attend a graduation or a significant sporting event for her nieces and nephews. Jacqui loved Christmas and giving presents. She always bought gifts for her guests so they felt included when the family began opening theirs. Also, if someone had nowhere to go for Thanksgiving or Christmas, there was always room at her home or table. (She was the master at making mac-n-cheese. Mac-n-cheese was one dish she loved to eat and learned to make with perfection.) Jacqui created a bond of family that included many “adopted” members. Jacqui began playing hymns on the piano from a used hymnal her mother brought home. She liked singing hymns and religious music. She had a collection of recordings from various artists that traveled with her almost everywhere she went. Jacqui drew her inspiration from the Bible, especially, Psalm 119:133-135, in which King David asks God for direction, deliverance, favor and wisdom. Jacqui loved to sing the song that was inspired from this scripture. Here in Colorado, Jacqui was a member of Heritage Christian Center. Arik’s Tribute: My mother was a kind woman who always opened her home to both friends and family alike. Many of my friends became like her own adopted sons and daughters. My mother was not a stranger to hard work and being a single parent often would work two jobs with very little sleep so that I would never know what it was like to go without. My mother was the consummate homemaker and provider. She was the personification of the word, “mother.” Tamerra’s Tribute: Auntie Jacqui was one of the first people to truly show me means to be magical. No matter what she was dealing with, no matter what personal difficulties she faced or silent battles she fought, she spun her situation into gold and wove the most beautiful moments out of them. She worked all the time, but still showed up to soccer games and graduations. She was spread thin financially, but still celebrated everyone’s birthday with a precious, personalized gift and rhyming card to accompany it. She showed up for family, always, and that is a legacy I am blessed to honor for the rest of my life. I miss you every day, Auntie Jacqui. Thank you for everything. I love you so much. Family Tribute: Jacqui’s life began in the comfort of a centralized, military, family. She was self-sufficient. She navigated and tackled life’s challenges with fearless courage. She blazed many trails for herself and created paths for others to follow. Jacqui was rebellious and independent. She would ask for your opinion, but in the end she knew in her heart that the final decision would be her own. Jacqui was the embodiment of God’s grace and His blessing. She faced a lot of adversity during her life, but through difficult times, her stubbornness and resignation to overcome her difficulties, helped her make it through. Jacqui survived a brain aneurism, a scare with breast cancer, unemployment, the loss of her husband and life as a single mom. And, through it all, she remained steadfast in her faith. Jacqui was extremely proud of her son. She loved him deeply. He is her greatest accomplishment. Jacqui fought for perceived injustices to friends and, especially, for family. Even at the expense of her own needs, Jacqui gave to loved ones, family and friends; whether it was her presence, her time, or her resources. She always made herself available and found a way to make us feel special. Jacqui never missed a commitment, especially if the commitment had great meaning for her such as the Race for the Cure for Breast Cancer. Jacqui taught us to never give up; that, unfortunately, life is too short and that we should spend every moment on the people and things that are important to us. Jacqui made us see that although she and our Mother approached life from different perspectives, they were both strong, proud, stubborn, kind, generous and loving: They were more alike than they probably knew. Jacqui’s unexpected passing has devastated all of us. But, we take comfort in knowing that Jacqui is, now, at work in Heaven. Pamela Jacqueline Polk departed this life on November 17, 2017. She is survived by her son: Arik M. Sloan; her sisters and brother: Erviena V. Austin, Cheryl E. Jones, Luwan M. Jones, Irvin R. Jones, Jr., Sandra C. Jones and Donna K. Jones Whitlock; her nieces and nephews: Vernon L. Austin, Tamerra N. Griffin, Patrick J. Griffin, Zachary A. Whitlock, Zoe A. Whitlock, George “Zeke” W. Whitlock, IV; her brother-in-law: George W. Whitlock, III; and, a host of other relatives and friends. Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace. James 2:18 Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works

Funeral Home: St. Stephens Missionary Baptist Church - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 12/1/2017 at 9:00 AM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 12/1/2017 at 11:00 AM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Cemetery: 12/1/2017 at 2:15:00 PM - Ft. Logan National Cemetery - 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, CO