It is with profound sadness and a lifetime of love in my heart, I share the passing of my beloved wife, Polly Ann Hamm, on October 1, 2026.

Polly was born on October 30, 1955, to Charles Ray Pate and Mildred Stewart, alongside an older sister, Rose Marie Pate, and younger Brother, Marty Ray Pate, which loved her dearly. Polly, along with her brother and sister’s childhood was marked by hardship and uncertainty. She spent time in several foster care homes before eventually being placed in The Children’s Home in Montgomery, Alabama. Those early years were tough, and they faced challenges no children should ever have to endure. Yet even in those difficult seasons, Polly developed strength, empathy, and determination that would later define her life. The tenderness she showed others came, in part, from knowing what it felt like to long for stability, love, and a place to belong.

Throughout her life, she was known for her caring heart, gentle spirit, and unwavering love for her family. She touched countless lives through simple acts of kindness, compassion, and generosity. Polly was first married to Claude Pate for 24 years, during which she was blessed with the two greatest gifts of her early adulthood, her daughter, Bridgett Bruce, and her son, Chad Pate. She loved her children fiercely and devoted herself to raising them with the care and support she had always longed for as a child.Determined to build a better future, Polly earned her GED and later became a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). She found her calling working in the field of pediatrics, where she was able to combine her professional skills with her genuine love for children. Caring for young patients was far more than a job to Polly. She brought comfort, compassion, and kindness to countless children and families during times when they needed it most. Having overcome so much herself, she possessed a unique ability to make children feel safe, valued, and loved.

Polly’s life was further blessed by the joy of becoming a grandmother and great‑grandmother. Through her children she gained three grandchildren —— Staff Sergeant Reginald Mason Bruce, Ruby Cheyenne Bruce, and Nathan Pate. These children were a source of pride, laughter, and love. In 2018 she also was blessed with a beautiful great‑grandchild, Sophie Grace Ball, whose Prescence added a tender, heavenly light to Polly’s heart and Someone she cherished and longed to see again. These grandchildren and great‑grandchild were among her greatest joys, and she loved them with the same fierce devotion she carried throughout her life. The same nurturing spirit she shared with her patients was reflected in every aspect of her life. Whether caring for her family, helping a friend, or comforting a child, Polly gave of herself unselfishly and wholeheartedly. One of the earliest and most enduring influences of Polly’s gentle nature was her beloved aunt, Ruby Lee Kirkland. Ruby’s kindness and steady presence shaped Polly deeply, giving her a model of the warmth and compassion she later poured into everyone around her. Polly often spoke of her aunt with affection and carried those lessons throughout her life. She always longed to see Aunt Ruby again, and the love she felt for her remained a quiet, guiding force in the way she cared for others.

She ended up marrying the love of her life, Jeremy Hamm, on October 1, 1999, this would begin a marriage that would last for 27 years to the very day of her passing. Though life was tough, we never gave up on our vows. We walked through many lows, many hurts, and seasons that tested us in ways only God could carry us through. But there were also countless highs — moments of joy, laughter, and deep connections and the love we shared could never be matched. Our marriage was not perfect, but it was faithful, enduring, and rooted in a love far greater than ourselves. In her final days, Polly was finally at her own home cared for by her husband and an incredible team of nurses and social workers with Enhabit Hospice of Tuscaloosa. She was surrounded by her family gathered around her, praying over her as praise and worship music played every day and trusting her outcome to the Lord.

Polly’s love extended far beyond her immediate family. She was deeply loved by a wide circle of cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family, all of whom held a special place in her heart. Polly was also dearly loved by her family through her 2nd marriage. She shared a meaningful bond with Jeremy’s mother and her husband, who welcomed her with warmth and affection from the very beginning. She was cherished by her brother‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law, and adored their children, Hudson Hamm and Charlie Hamm, who brought joy, laughter, and light into her life. Polly embraced her role within Jeremy’s family wholeheartedly, and they loved her just as deeply in return. Each relationship mattered to her, and she carried those bonds with pride and affection. Her family was large, loving, and intertwined, and Polly’s presence was a steady source of warmth and unity among them.

During the last four months of her life, I—Jeremy Hamm—had the honor of being her caregiver. I couldn’t have loved her more in her sickness than I did in her health. I fought with everything in me to get her health back and healed. The vows I gave her in marriage became a living testimony of a love that only our Heavenly Father could create and so freely gives to each of us. In a way only that Polly could have written herself, she held on until our 27th wedding anniversary. After all we shared together, she chose our day to say goodbye. Though it broke my heart, it also reminded me of the strength, determination, and love that defined her entire life. Our anniversary day was also her first Anniversary in Heaven — a place we all long to be.

Family and friends, you are invited to join us as we celebrate the beautiful life of Polly Ann Hamm on October 30th, 2026 what would have been her 71st birthday but better than that it will be her first birthday in Heaven.

Celebration of Life Service October 30, 2026 2:00 PM Service (doors open at 1:30) The Church at Tuscaloosa 6120 Watermelon Road Northport, Alabama 35473

The service will be held in the Sanctuary. We gather not only to mourn Polly's passing but to celebrate the love, laughter, memories, and legacy she leaves behind.

Family members are invited to gather for lunch at 12:00 PM at the church prior to the service. RSVP to email ( JHammWorship@gmail.com )

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial donations be made to Encompass Cares Hospice Foundation. Donations may be made by visiting: www.EncompassCares.org and by selecting "Hospice Donation."