Lidia Holmes

Lorraine Wallace Polk, a beloved resident of Lithonia, Georgia, passed away on May 29th, 2023 at the age of 54 due to complications from pneumonia. Born on July 30th, 1938 in Greenwood, Florida, Lorraine was the second oldest of four daughters to Allen Wallace and Lilly Mae Wynn. She moved with her family to Trenton, New Jersey after her father's death and attended Grammar School and graduated from Trenton High School in 1956.

Lorraine's academic journey took her to Central State of Ohio: a proud HBCU in Wilberforce, OH, where she studied to become an educator. She met and fell in love with a young U.S. Army ROTC cadet named Jack Polk and the two dated throughout her college career. During that time, Lorraine was known as a sweet and kind “Jersey Girl” who worked hard but loved to dance and listen to music in her spare time.

In 1960, Lorraine graduated with a degree in education and married Lt. Jack D. Polk, her college sweetheart and true love, on August 15th, 1960. She embarked on an exciting journey as an Army officer's wife, traveling the world and making lifelong friends.

Lorraine was a devoted and loving mother who also excelled at various skills and hobbies, such as cooking and playing Contract Bridge. She became a self-taught gourmet cook, impressing guests at countless military parties that she threw as an officer's wife. Her passion for Contract Bridge led her to travel the world to play in top-level international tournaments where she earned the status of "Life Master," a title shared by less than 1% of Contract Bridge players.

Lorraine pursued her academic goals after her children were born and earned a Master's Degree with honors in Counseling from Boston University at its satellite campus in Germany. She used her education to work with troubled youth in both elementary and high schools.

Upon her husband's retirement in 1980, Lorraine and her family moved to Decatur, GA, where she re-committed her life to Christ and was baptized for the second time at Rainbow Park Baptist Church in Decatur, GA. She was a loyal member there for 43 years, sharing her skills to counsel troubled teens and couples within the church.

Lorraine will be deeply missed by her husband of 62 years, John, her children Kasey and John, her four grandchildren Bryan, Reece, Jennifer, and Lois, her great-grandchild Bassie, her sisters Lee and Bandi Handy, and her many nieces, nephews, and close friends.