Polly Ann Duvall

Polly Ann Duvall was born in Wolf Creek on January 23, 1937, to the late Arther and Callie Westmoreland Bell. The oldest of eight children, Polly actually started life with a different name.

Her mother wanted to name her Nora Ella, but a great-aunt had other ideas and pressured her to name the baby Polly Ann. Callie apparently wasn't ready to give up. The 1940 census lists her daughter as Nora Ella. But by the time school started, Polly Ann had won out, and Polly she remained for the rest of her life.

Polly married Roy Duvall, and they settled on Blue Ridge Lake in Lakewood, where they raised their children. She was a wonderful cook and was especially known for her biscuits. In true grandmother fashion, when the family gathered at her house, Polly made sure every child and grandchild had something they liked. This was wonderful for the grandchildren and slightly less wonderful for the daughters-in-law who were trying to teach their children to eat what everyone else was eating. Mamaw Polly was not especially concerned about that.

Polly was also known for her beautiful silver hair, which she had for most of her adult life. Strangers frequently stopped her to compliment her on it, which worked out well because Polly never met a stranger anyway. Anyone who knew her from her years working at, and later owning, Lakewood Grocery probably already knew that.

She loved being out and about, and her adventurous streak began with beach trips with her good friend, the late Ruth Abercrombie. Later in life, Polly proved that there was no age limit on trying something new. She experienced quite a few firsts in her 60s. Her first airplane ride took her to the Bahamas, and after that she flew to Indiana, Washington and Nevada to visit grandchildren and take vacations. Polly also loved lottery tickets, and she found a slot machine while on vacation in Nassau. Of course she lost all sense of time and had to be pulled out of there.

Now, no one is claiming Mamaw Polly was perfect.

If you played Rummy with her, for example, you might notice that the rules had a way of changing in her favor. Polly strongly disagreed with the suggestion that this was cheating.

We sure will miss her laugh. Polly loved reliving a memory and telling a good story, but she rarely made it all the way through without starting to laugh herself. Before long she would be laughing until she cried, and everyone around her would be laughing until our ribs hurt.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Roy, Polly was preceded in death by her son, Joe, and her brothers Billy, Daniel and Archie Bell. Left to cherish her memory are her sons Doug (Judy) Duvall and Lynn (Joan) Duvall; grandchildren Andy Duvall, Shaw Duvall, Kim Sams, Katie Duvall and Lauren Duvall; great-grandchildren Bryer, MaKenzie, Doug, Michael, Audrey, and Benjamin Duvall, Karli and Kyndal Sams and bonus greats and grands Isabella Eads and Brett Cody; siblings Kathy, Diane, Merry Carol and Anthony; special cousins Subie and Arlene, and many nieces and nephews.

Rest easy our Polly Ann, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, cousin, aunt, and best biscuit maker.

Funeral Service, on Friday September 25, 2026 at 12:00 PM at Cochran-McDaniel Funeral Home, Blue Ridge Chapel with Rev. Doug Name officiating.

The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers, Shaw Duvall, Andy Duvall, Bryer Duvall, Mike Sams, Katie Duvall, Darryl Cody.

Interment will follow at Toccoa Baptist Church Cemetery in Morganton, GA 30560.

The family will receive friends at Cochran-McDaniel Funeral Home & Crematory Blue Ridge Chapel on Thursday, September 24, 2026 from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM.

Cochran-McDaniel Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Polly Ann Duvall; you may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranmcdaniel.com.