Columbus
Anna Mae Poland, 97, of Columbus, passed away Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at Columbus Regional Hospital. She was born August 27, 1925, in Wayne Township, the daughter of Glenn C. and Nellie M. Weekly Jones.
She was a part of the 6th generation of the Jones family in Wayne township, and a proud relative of many Civil War, WW1, WW2, and Revolutionary War fighters. Her great-great-great grandfather, Simpson Jones, was a Revolutionary War soldier serving in Maryland while a resident of Virginia. Her great-grandfathers William A. Jones and Mann Smith served in the Civil War, her father, Glenn C. Jones, served in World War 1 and her husband Gene served in WW 2. She was a member of the Genealogy Society, and AARP, a past member of the senior center, a volunteer for the American Heart Association for several years, and a volunteer at Camp Atterbury Museum.
Anna Mae was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church where she served as a financial secretory, clerk of the church, officer of the ladies’ aid, children’s Sunday school teacher, and bible school teacher, helper, and pianist, and church historian, in which she wrote the histories of the church. She was also a former member of the American Baptist Women’s Group where she was a pianist, and organist from the time that the church purchased an organ.
She was a graduate of Columbus High School in 1943 and took musical and computer training later in life. She was the beloved wife of Claude E. “Gene” Poland, whom she married on December 31, 1949 at Bethel Baptist Church by Rev. Harry Mattingly. She retired from being a church secretary, after 32 years, on December 31, 1997.
Anna Mae is survived by her son, Gary W. (Cindy) Poland Sr., of Columbus; daughter, Carol B. Wisler, of North Vernon; Sister-in-Law, Patty L. Jones; grandchildren, Abraham E. Wisler, Melanie R. (Doug) Sanders, Gary W. Poland Jr., JoAnna G. (John) Velten; great-grandchildren, Daniel Scott Wisler, Peyton Wisler, Quinn Velten, Olivia Sanders, Abigail Sanders, Jacob Sanders, and one on the way; nieces, and nephews, Nena Wisler, Tricia Evanko, and C. Victor Jones.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Glenn C., and Nellie M. Weekly Jones; spouse, Claude E. “Gene” Poland; brother, Carl V. Jones Sr. and nephew, Todd Andrew Jones.
The funeral service will be at 10:30 AM on Saturday, December 31, 2022 at Bethel Baptist Church with pastors Bill Cordes, and Adam Carrigan officiating the service. She will be laid to rest in the Garland Brook Mausoleum. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday and one hour prior to the service on Saturday all at Bethel Baptist Church. Memorial contributions in memory of Anna Mae may be made to the Bethel Baptist Church.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home.
You are invited to view her video tribute, light a virtual candle of remembrance, and leave a condolence message to the family via the funeral home website: www.jewellrittman.com.
