Poledore, Joseph Miller
12/19/1990
| Rev. Joseph Miller Poledore was born from the union of the late Jerry and Kezia Pole-dore on March 31, 1898 in Jeanerctte, Louisiana. He died December 19, 1990. He was preceded in death by Laura Poledore, his lovely and devoted wife of fifty-four years. From the union of this holy matrimony six children were born; four daughters, Mrs. Melvina Taylor, Mrs. Mildred Brown, Mrs. Glara Daniel, Mrs. Linda Rubbins; two sons, Mr. Memphis Poledore and Mr. Jerry Poledore. Miller Polodore attended the public schools of Saint Mary Parish and lived his entire life in the area known as “Four Corners.” Miller was baptized in 1923 by the late Rev. Kellogg Mitchell of Saint John Baptist Church in Four Corners. A few years after his baptism, Miller felt the call by God to preach God’s word. He answered the call in 1926 as a Baptist minister in Saint John Baptist Church of Four Corners. He ministered there for four years. In 1930, Miller felt an inward call to change denomination. He transferred his membership from Saint John Baptist Church to Saint Paul Methodist Church in Jeanerette, Louisiana and there he began his seminary studies at Gulfside, Mississippi. He received his license to preach in 1932, his deacon order was conferred upon him in 1948 and in 1958 he was ordained an elder in The Louisiana Annual Conference. During his tenure as a minister some of the churches he served were: Union (Four Corners), Saint Matthew (Patoutville), Walmsley (Morgan City), Mason (Berwick), Godman (Charenton) and Mount Zion (Freetown). During his ministry as a pastor, Rev. Miller Poledore also worked at Sterling Sugar Mill in Franklin, LA; he worked as a farmer and he also worked at Black Carbon Plant in Louise, LA., from which he retired in the late 60s. Rev. Poledore was loved, respected and appreciated by most people who knew him because he was never too busy to give of himself to the needs of others. Those who knew him well in the community in which he lived and the communities which he served as pastor called him “Pop” because he became the spiritual father of the communities which he served. To his wife he was a faithful, good and devoted husband; to his children he was a father and a very special kind of father because he was a provider and a counselor. And most of all he was there when needed to answer their many calls and cries. He retired from the Louisiana Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church in the mid or early 70s, but remained a preacher of God’s word until his death. He served as pastor emeritus of Mount Zion, the charge from which he retired. He preached and rendered services to the church and community until his death as pastor emeritus. In our conversations he would always end with these words, and I quote, “I know that the time won’t be too long before I go home to meet my God.” This reminded me so much of the words of Paul, when he said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing.” (II Timothy 4:7-8) |
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| Source: Journal Louisiana Conference, 1991, p. 246 By Fulton A. Raymond, Sr. | |
