In FOCUS - Polly Sargent

Polly Sargent. Or, if you had the pleasure of having her as one of your school teachers, then you know her as Ms. Sargent. Polly is a retired school teacher of Hancock County. She taught Home Economics, English and Reading. She was the kind of teacher that was born with ‘teaching’ in her blood.  She wasn’t just a teacher, but a nurturer of life skills, values, and confidence. She taught more than just textbook information. She taught her students self respect, resourcefulness, and heart. Polly turned her classroom into a lifelong foundation for so many.

Growing up in the 1940’s, Polly says she was definitely influenced by her parents who came of age during the Depression era. Polly grew up learning, as so many from that generation were taught, "nothing goes to waste".  Her parents taught her to maximize every resource, and to embrace practices like reusing and repurposing. Finding new applications for items that might otherwise be discarded. For instance, using old clothes for quilts, transforming flour sacks into dresses, and repurposing glass jars for storage. One step inside her home, and you’ll notice how every piece has been used, repurposed and loved for generations.

She inherited her independent ‘Mountain Mama’ like spirit, and positive attitude from her Mom and Dad.  They instilled in her those core values; to cherish Family, to love the USA, and above all, to love the Lord. Her positivity drives her to get up each morning. She wakes up wanting to see what adventures the new day brings.  Polly says life has taught her to quit labeling setbacks and misfortunes as problems – but instead, to refer to them as exciting new adventures. Now that’s a great outlook to have. She shares one of the quotes she lives by . . . "Live each day like it were your last . . . because one day, you will wake up, and it will be true ."



Polly is the kind of person whose stories, wisdom, and gifts always come wrapped in love. Polly’s shares her recipes, like she shares everything else, with a giving heart and an open hand. Here’s a treat for you. If you open any local community cookbook, chances are you’re going to find one of Polly’s recipes. Think Homestyle, yummy goodness. She’s shared a lot of those treasured recipes over the years. Recipes such as, Peanut butter cake, her Troy-Bilt potato casserole, and her Mom’s self-iced chocolate cake to name a few. Polly shares that her favorite recipe to share with her students and friends was for O’Henry Bars. Here’s the recipe: 2/3 cup margarine, 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup light Karo, 4 cups quick oats, 1 Tablespoon vanilla. Cream together the margarine and brown sugar. Add Karo, oats and vanilla to the brown sugar mixture. Mix well. Pour into a greased 13 x 9 pan. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. For the topping, you will need 1 cup of chocolate chips and 2/3 cup peanut butter. While the cookie is baking, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter in the microwave. Stir to blend and then pour over the baked cookies and spread evenly. Cut when cooled and enjoy.  

In those old advertising words: But wait, there’s more! . . . Her talents do not stop with her cooking skills. The person who nominated Polly to be spotlighted for this Blog wanted to share Polly’s love of quilting. And how that love extends to those around her. Polly’s quilts are Blue ribbon winners! You only have to look at her quilt collection to see that she is a Master Quilter and quite the Artist. She’s even had her Butterfly Handkerchief quilt featured at our state capitol in Charleston. (An exquisite quilt made from her and her Mom's handkerchiefs, hand sewn and hand quilted by Polly.) Each quilt a treasure, each stitch a legacy. Her quilts warm more than bodies – they’ve warmed generations. In her hands, cloth becomes timeless art. After her husband passed, she made beautiful and memorable quilt pieces, from his shirts, and his ties. The best part of this God given talent- she’s taught countless others how to sew their own masterpieces. How fortunate we are that she doesn’t keep this time aged skill to herself – she shares her knowledge with others. She continues to offer help and guidance to all. She is a tireless quilter, with an artist’s eye, and always on the lookout for a new pattern. Polly says her favorite quilt pattern is the Sawtooth Star.

Polly Sargent, thank you! With every stitch, every recipe, every lesson in grace and resilience, you have shaped futures. You didn’t just teach Home Economics – you taught the art of living well. Your legacy is stitched into the lives you’ve shaped. Your retirement from school teaching may have closed one chapter, but your impact writes on in every life you’ve touched. Our community is richer for your presence.