Pollye Ann Gross

Pollye Ann Gross of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, died peacefully at her home at Thrive at Brow Wood on Friday, September 25, 2026, at the age of 87. She passed away encircled by those who cared for and loved her during her difficult health battle.

Knowing Pollye made you smile. She never met a stranger. She knew every fellow Thrive resident by name, along with their children and even their grandchildren. If you were visiting Pollye on any day, you would certainly see her well dressed, hair fixed just right, and her signature bright red lipstick.

Among her many favorite activities were karaoke, hymn sing, sip-and-paint, cheering on the Volunteers, and any competitive games (involving small wagering), such as bingo, penny auction, or left-right-center, and she especially delighted in displaying her awarded items. Chocolate items were lovingly shared with her fellow residents as she triumphantly returned to her room. Around mealtime, Pollye often passed around birthday cards for everyone in the community to sign before personally delivering them to the celebrant's door.

Pollye enjoyed Ms. Krista and Ms. Teresa’s delicious breakfasts and the gourmet desserts they lovingly prepared each day. She loved every resident and every staff member dearly. Her transition from living alone to becoming part of such a wonderful community transformed her life in the most beautiful way.

Pollye was preceded in death by her parents, James Lynn Smith and Sally Bradley Smith of Chattanooga, Tennessee; her siblings, Betty Lynn Nunnally, of Birmingham, Alabama; and Jimmy B. Smith, of Chattanooga, Tennessee; and her adored husband of 45 years, Harry L. Gross, Sr., following his long illness, during which Pollye lovingly served as his full-time caregiver for many years.

She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Gross Millirons, and favorite son-in-law, Timothy Jason Millirons of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, and twin grandsons, Harrison Millirons and Emory Millirons of Sewanee, Tennessee; her son, Harry L. Gross, Jr., and daughter-in-law Laura Rose Gross, of Knoxville, Tennessee, and grandchildren John Gross (Jess), of Atlanta, Georgia, Katherine Hunt (Andrew), of Franklin, Tennessee, and Will Gross, of Atlanta, Georgia; along with several nieces, nephews, and other relatives; Pollye recently became the proud great-grandmother to Connor William Hunt and Hadley Mae Gross.

Pollye was a graduate of Chattanooga Central High School and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. After receiving her degree in elementary education, she spent over 20 years teaching young children, with most of those years teaching kindergarten at The Bright School in Chattanooga. She had such love for early education, her students, and their families.

To honor the life of their mother, her children will host a friend and family visitation on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at The Church of the Good Shepherd, 211 Franklin Rd, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350. The gathering will be held in Talbird Hall, located directly off the circle drive, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Please come ready to share your favorite Pollye story and wear a little “Pink for Pollye.” The graveside service at Chattanooga National Cemetery will be held on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. If attending please line up at the main gate at the cemetery promptly at 12:15 p.m. inside the entrance, near the main office area. Reverend Walton Jones, Rector, and/or Reverend Michele Simmons, Associate Priest, will officiate the service.

There are no words gracious enough to express the family’s gratitude to all those who supported Pollye throughout this past year, including: The Church of the Good Shepherd; the medical teams at Memorial Hospital, Center for Sport Medicine & Orthopaedics, and Life Care Center of East Ridge (rehabilitation); all of her dedicated caregivers; and the loving staff at Thrive. To each of you, we extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks for the care, compassion, and love you gave Pollye. She faced each stage of her illness with unbelievable courage, grit, determination, and unwavering hope. Those who have been by her side will be forever changed and inspired by being a part of her journey.

Memorials may be made in memory of Harry L. Gross, Sr. to MSA/Shy-Drager Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, AA-3228 Medical Center North, Nashville, TN 37232-2195; in memory of Pollye to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at https://donate.imaginationlibrary.com , or to its local official community partner, Signal Centers, at https://www.signalcenters.org/donate or in honor of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to The Church of the Good Shepherd Youth Formation, Lookout Mountain, TN, Attention Matt Harbison, Director of Youth Ministry.

Philippians 4:7: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Please share your thoughts and memories of Pollye online with the family at www.chattanoogaeastchapel.com

Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel has been entrusted with her arrangements.