Pauline "Polly" Ireland

Pauline (Polly) Elizabeth Ireland went home to be with her Heavenly Father on May 31, 2022. Visitation (9:00am) and grave-side service (10:30am) will be held on June 3, 2022 at the Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home at 5701 John Hawkins Parkway in Hoover, AL. Polly is preceded in death by her husband of 68 years Dennis (Dan) Linier Ireland; her parents John Thomas (T) and Mary Peal Tucker; and brother Charles Wheeler Tucker. She is survived by her two children, Denise Lynn Cypress and Jeffrey Ray Ireland; four grandchildren, Daniel (Dan) Ireland, Michael (Mike) Ireland, David Cypress, Kathryn (Katie) Ireland; 5 great-grandchildren, Sarah, Amelie, Mattias, Iris, Aurelia; and her sister Dorothy (Dot) Jane Powers; a special group of nieces and nephews; and friends too numerous to count.

She was born the second of three children to T & Mary Tucker on March 15, 1931 in Lafayette, Alabama. She was a graduate of Lafayette High School and attended college at Auburn University.

While playing the piano for revival services at Jackson Memorial Baptist Church in Chambers County, Alabama she began dating and fell in love with Dennis Linier Ireland and became Mrs. D. L. Ireland. To this God-ordained union were born Denise Lynn and Jeffrey Ray. No family ever enjoyed fellowship and love any more than this Ireland clan. Added to this family were Barbara Rydberg Ireland, Jeffrey's wife, and Fred Karlton Cypress, Denise's husband. And, of course, the delight of the entire family has been the birth of four precious grandchildren children and five precious great grandchildren.

Polly’s Career at ALCAP

Polly Ireland was a former staff member of Alabama Citizens Action Program and wife of ALCAP’s longest-serving executive director, the late Dan Ireland. During the early days of her husband’s 30-year ministry, Polly was the only help he had around the office. As they built support for the ALCAP ministry, they were able to hire additional employees. At that point, she became the office manager and helped keep the work in the office moving forward while her husband met with state officials and church and denominational leaders.

Known for Polly’s Party

For decades, Polly was famous among state legislative and judicial leaders for the buffet of homemade treats she baked for Polly’s Party. This annual reception offered her husband a chance to share the gospel and ALCAP’s values, and it opened many doors to build relationships with state leaders.

Greg Davis, current ALCAP president and CEO, said Polly’s name and influence is still prevalent in ALCAP’s ministry.

“I never walk the halls of the State House without someone asking about her,” he said. “She and Dr. Ireland have left a shadow from which we all still benefit.”

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the following:

World Central Kitchen

200 Massachusetts Ave NW, 7th Floor

Washington, DC 20001 US

202-844-6330

online at worldcentralkitchen.org

Or donate to another charity of your choice