Max Eugene Polley

Dr. Max Eugene Polley, of Davidson, NC, the Davidson College Cannon Professor of Religion Emeritus, died Thursday March 27, 2014. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jacquelyn Vander Ven Polley of the Pines at Davidson; by a son, Vance Ernest Polley (Deborah); a daughter, Lynn Anita Krepich (Michael) and three grandchildren, Lucy and Kurt Polley and Troy Krepich. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert and Jack Polley. He was born in South Bend, Indiana on June 3, 1928. He grew up in Buchanan, Michigan and attended public schools. He was a graduate of Albion College (Alboin, Michigan) in 1950, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa. While at Albion College, he was the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (Division III) 100 and 220 yard dash champion in his sophomore and junior years. He was a graduate of Duke Divinity School (1953) and earned his PH.D. in Hebrew Studies at Duke University (1957). He joined the Religion Department at Davidson College in 1956 and taught there for thirty seven years until his retirement in 1993. Dr. and Mrs. Polley and family took two full-year sabbaticals at Oxford University in England where they made close friends whom they frequently visited on their travels abroad. Each sabbatical was followed by a ten-week camping trip in Europe as far north as Copenhagen and as far east as Athens. He also participated in two archaeological digs, one in Israel and the other in Cyprus. He was ordained in Western Michigan Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. in 1953. After coming to Davidson he became a member of Concord Presbytery where he served as a Moderator of the Presbytery and as a member of the Executive, Examinations and Candidates for the Ministry Committees. He was a commissioner at three Presbyterian General Assemblies. He frequently did supply preaching in churches within the Presbytery. As a devoted thespian, he performed on stage in twenty-two productions with Davidson Community Players and worked off stage at the box office and as a fund raiser. He was frequently a member of the board, serving numerous times as its president. In the area of sports, he was an average tennis player, a terrible golf player, but a fairly good trout fisherman in the mountains of North Carolina. Dr. and Mrs. Polley moved to the Pines Retirement Community in 1999 where they enjoyed many happy years together attending operas, concerts, lectures and stage performances. Memorial services will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, Davidson, NC. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Davidson Community Players, P. O. Box 76, Davidson, NC 28036. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Huntersville, NC is assisting the family. Friends may offer condolences to the family at www.raymerfh.com.