Mary Standifer "Polly" Meadors

Mary S. “Polly” Meadors, age 97, of Valdosta went home to be with our Lord on March 19, 2021. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Jason Lawrence Meadors, her parents, Dr. Jack Guy and Rebecca Moore Standifer of Blakely, GA and her three siblings, Sarah Davis of Athens TN, Marjorie Standifer of Albany GA and William Standifer of Blakely GA.

Polly leaves behind to cherish her memory her oldest daughter and son-in-law Penelope Meadors Wright and Will Wright of Edisto Island SC; youngest daughter Rebecca Meadors of Valdosta and friend Thomas Beeckler of Ponte Vedra Beach FL; granddaughter Margaret Faenza of Jacksonville FL; grandson and spouse, Brooks and Ashley Wright of Mt. Pleasant SC; granddaughter and husband, Rebecca and Robert Goings of Columbia SC; granddaughter and spouse, Kate and Marshall Koch of Arlington VA; and six great-grandchildren: Eliza, Brooks, Madeleine, Grayson, Emerson and India. She leaves behind her dear friend, Joan English, whom she dearly loved and who cared for her with deep love and affection during her final 8 years.

Born in Blakely GA on March 2, 1924, Polly was the youngest of four children. Her childhood years were sprinkled with fond memories of being given “a piece of ice” from the ice truck, her father hitching Prince to the wagon to make house calls to expectant mothers and playing long hours at the nearby Kolomoki Indian Mounds. She graduated from Wesleyan College in 1945 with a chemistry degree and then worked as a lab technician for Grady Hospital. While in Atlanta she met her future husband, Jason, who was then a medical student at Emory. Polly and Jason enjoyed 69 years of marriage. Jason’s favorite name for his bride was Polly and that's how she became known to family and friends.

Polly and Jason eventually relocated to Moultrie in the 1950’s. They attended the First United Methodist Church where Polly taught Sunday School classes to the youth. She was also a member of the Ladies Medical Auxiliary, the D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution) and the Moultrie Service League.

Jason moved his medical practice to Valdosta in 1972 where Polly continued her community service. As a board member of the Salvation Army for twenty years she organized volunteers to “ring the bell” for the Salvation Army kettles and routinely counted the Kettle proceeds. She faithfully delivered Meals-on-Wheels for a number of years. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Valdosta and a founding member of the Cabaret Club. Polly was an excellent bridge player and a member of two bridge clubs. Always one for a good laugh, Polly enrolled at the Ringling Brothers Clown College in Sarasota FL so she could entertain her grandchildren at their birthday parties.

Polly loved adventure and traveled extensively. She canoed numerous whitewater rivers and bicycled across Georgia (BRAG) for several decades. She and Jason raised the bar by pedaling across southern England staying overnight in castles along the way. Polly rode an elephant in Africa, walked the Great Wall of China and visited the Galapagos Islands with her grandson. She was one of the oldest participants in Outward Bound (a challenging wilderness adventure program). Polly earned her Private Pilot License and piloted a number of flights by herself much to Jason’s dismay.

Mary Meadors was a blessing to all and will be greatly missed. She showed extraordinary fortitude and optimism throughout her long life.

A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2021, at the family plot in the Blakely City Cemetery in Early County. Flowers would be appreciated or donations to the Valdosta Chapter of the Salvation Army, PO Box 1593, Valdosta GA 31603. Condolences can be made at the obituary page at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.