Phyllis Poller
Beacon of Light Award 2024
The Beacon of Light Award was established by the Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors to honor a local individual who emulates the traits of the late Rev. F.J. Beverly, who served this community as a minister of the Gospel. The Rev. Beverly also served the Hall of Fame as its Chaplain for many years. It is expected that the recipient of this prestigious award reflects the qualities evident in F.J.’s life. Chief among those were his faith, character, civic participation, community service, humor, and friendliness.
The Board’s selection of Phyllis Poller as this year’s recipient certainly fulfills the qualifications for the award. Ms. Poller, a math teacher, holds three degrees in her desired field of teaching, including a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Education, and an Education Specialist degree. Ms. Poller’s profession as a teacher for thirty-six years, with the last twenty-seven years teaching math at Ware County High School, has certainly had an impact on her students, not just while they were in her care but well into their future. As Ms. Poller said, “Teaching is a profession, and caring about students is a calling. My love for children and passion to see them succeed in life are two values that I feel have shaped me into the person I am today.”
Ms. Poller always went the extra step, not only to make sure her students had the technical skills to succeed in life but also to let them know that she cared about them personally, both inside and outside the classroom. For twenty years, Ms. Poller was “Ma,” the “Gator Lady,” the “lady with the Gator hat,” and the “bus lady,” all terms of endearment from an appreciative Gator Nation. Most of her nicknames came because of her amazing contributions outside the classroom. For those twenty years, she organized and participated in feeding the Gator Football team every Wednesday night during football season. She went into the community and secured both donations and manpower to assist her in providing meals for her Gators. The “bus lady” was a moniker bestowed on her for ensuring that charter buses were available for fans and students, who otherwise may not have been able to attend, to travel to out-of-town games. It was all about the Gators and their fans.
Phyllis Poller is a proud lifetime member of the C.C. Stephen’s AMVETS Post 621 and currently serves as the post’s adjunct. Their national motto is “Veterans serving Veterans,” and, of course, she is extremely involved in helping organize and putting together gift bags during Christmas and Valentines for veterans in nursing homes, supplying food baskets for veterans during Thanksgiving, and providing a safe drive-up station for kids to have a secure place to trick-or-treat during the Halloween season.
Ms. Poller is the proud mother of Alvin Desmond Gibson and grandmother of grandsons Akeem Gibson and Jamar Watson. As a member of the Church of Christ Written in Heaven, she organizes events such as youth trips, trunk-or-treats, community Easter egg hunts, and Vacation Bible School. Her desire to help others comes from lessons learned as a child watching her grandfather, Bishop Calvin Poller, help people of all races in need. He would often take them to the Pic ‘N’ Save and buy them lunch or other items they needed. When asked how those closest would describe her, she said, “A selfless giver. My love language is doing for others. That is how I show people I love them. You may not always hear it out of my mouth, but you will feel my love by my actions.”
There are literally hundreds of people who would agree with that characterization and have felt Phyllis Poller’s love and genuine passion for the young and old alike. Congratulations on being chosen as the F.J. Beverly Award recipient! We are appreciative of your generosity towards our community, and we are honored to share this night with you.