Polly Baldwin

“She moves a goddess and looks a queen” is how the 1948 graduating class of Mount St. Mary Academy described our mother, Polly Weny Baldwin.  It is with sadness that we announce her passing on November 21, 2020, in her home at the age of ninety.  She was born February 27, 1930, in North Little Rock, Arkansas, the daughter of Nicholas and Gladys McLain Weny.  She graduated from St.  Mary’s in 1948 and attended the University of Arkansas, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. In 1951, she married Warren “Bud” Baldwin of Little Rock. (Our father Bud was the brother of Mimi, who was also the best friend of Mom’s sister Rita.  According to the story, Dad’s mom suggested that he ask out Polly “a nice girl for a change!”) After their wedding, they became members of Our Lady of Holy Souls Catholic Church in Little Rock and spent the next 59 years raising a large, happy family.

Mom was a loving wife, homemaker, chauffeur, nurse, coach, cook, tutor,

counselor, and everything else needed when raising eleven children.  But mostly she was our best friend.  She loved to read and passed that along to us and her grandchildren.  She enjoyed watching old movies, spending time at the lake, playing cards, and especially golfing with her Tuesday morning group. Her parting words to all us were always “be good!”

Our mother was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bud, their son Nick, and her two sisters Patty Evans and Rita Weny. She is survived by her five daughters: Rita Cunningham (Elijah) of Little Rock; Mimi Blackwood (Mark) of Fayetteville; Polly Petty (Tony) of Arkadelphia; Kelly King (John) of Helena; and Pauletta Andrews (J.R.) of Holts Summit, MO; and daughter-in-law, Dana Baldwin of Tulsa; five sons:  Bud Baldwin (Martha) of Fayetteville; Pat Baldwin of Davenport, IA; Mike Baldwin of Little Rock; Ben Baldwin of Maumelle; and Chris Baldwin (Susan) of Little Rock. She is also survived by twenty-four grandchildren:  Lije Cunningham (Caitlin), Sally Puckett (Bill), Charlie Cunningham, Jimmy Madigan (Sarah), Beau Baldwin, Alex Davis (John Michael), Mary Kate Baldwin, Jake Baldwin, Ashley Robertson (Josh), Duke Baldwin (Amber), Laurel Cannon (Andrew), Caroline Medlock (Sarah), Jimmy Medlock, Reed Medlock, Katy Owens (Townsend), Hannah Taylor (Corbin), Roman King, Tucker Andrews, Hunter Andrews, Emma Baldwin, Carter Baldwin, Cole Baldwin, Mimi Baldwin, and Ben Baldwin; and seventeen great-grandchildren, Magnolia, Eli, Margaret, Hoppy, Liam, Connor, Maggie, Macie Jo, Warren, Hames, Baldwin, Kagan, Ava, Cohen, Jace, Henry, and Anna.

We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to our brother Mike, Mom’s caregiver and best friend.  He moved in with Mom shortly after our father’s death, and she could not have remained in her home without him.

Because of COVID restrictions, a private family service will be held after the first of 2021, at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church in Little Rock.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Arkansas Children’s Hospital , Food Bank, or your favorite charity as a Christmas offering.

Cremation arrangements entrusted to www.arkansascremation.com

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