Mrs. Pauline (Polly) McReynolds Stone was welcomed into the eternal rest of her Heavenly Father on Monday, August 31, 2020, after an almost four-year battle with cancer. Mrs. Stone had worked in various roles for Reformed Theological Seminary since 1994. Known for her enormous love for her family, her Lord, and all things Mississippi State, Polly will be missed dearly by everyone who adored her.
Born on February 8, 1969, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, to Frances Coburn McReynolds and Samuel Swan McReynolds, Polly and her family then moved to Starkville when she was ten. After attaining the status of a basketball star at Starkville Academy, Polly earned an English degree from Mississippi State University. At Mississippi State, she was a member of Delta Gamma Fraternity and extremely involved with Reformed University Fellowship. Her passion for ministry led her to work for RUF at Clemson University, where she met Bob, her husband since 1993.
Polly and Bob made their home in Charlotte where Polly earned an MA in Theological Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary and advanced through a variety of jobs to be one of the four chief officers of RTS, the Chief Institutional Assessment Officer. Polly was also on the board of one of RTS’s academic accreditors, the Association of Theological Schools, and she wrote several articles related to improving academic quality at theological seminaries.
Dr. Ligon Duncan, Chancellor and CEO, shared, “The whole Reformed Theological Seminary family grieves with Bob Stone, in the loss of Polly Stone, but not without hope. Our hearts go out to Bob, Robert, and Amanda.”
Dr. Duncan also quoted Revelation 14:13: “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!'” Many current and former RTS faculty, staff, and students have shared their condolences and remembrances of working alongside Polly.
The apples of her eye, Amanda and Robert, were born in 1999 and 2002, respectively. Polly was very involved in the lives of her children and husband. She and Bob volunteered at Covenant Day School as Amanda’s basketball coach, and she was the scorekeeper for almost every one of her children’s various games. She aided Amanda and Robert academically and in their Christian growth with our Lord; both are in college now. Polly and Bob are founding members of Ballantyne Presbyterian Church (ARP), where Polly served as the Director of Christian Education and taught the women’s Bible study for years. Polly’s love and support for Bob was evident to all, especially in his roles as a ruling elder at Ballantyne Presbyterian and as a manager at Bank of America, not to mention his devotion to watching Clemson football.
Polly is preceded in death by her mother and father, named above. Left to mourn her until we see her again in heaven are her husband, Robert Newton Stone, her children, Amanda Coburn Stone, and Robert Samuel Stone, all of Charlotte, her brother, Frank Sage McReynolds of Anchorage, Alaska, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and beloved friends.
The family would like to invite the RTS family to join them in person at Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church on Saturday, September 5, at 1:00 PM (EDT) for the funeral with visitation preceding at 11:00 AM until 12:45 PM and afterward at the graveside nearby. For those unable to be there, the service will be live-streamed at this link.
Pallbearers are Bill Bradford, Branton Huss, Will Huss, Sage McReynolds, David Rea, and John Stone. Honorary pallbearers are David Billiard, Calvin Cara, and Ian Lindner. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Polly McReynolds Stone Scholarship at RTS Charlotte, 2101 Carmel Road, Charlotte, NC 28226, or give online (choose “In memory of Polly Stone” or choose “Other” and type “Polly Stone Scholarship” in the comment box.)