Erma E. Poland

Funeral services will be held for Erma Holmes Poland, age 92, at 2:00 p.m., on Monday, March 7, 2016 at Bienville United Methodist Church. Bro. Jerry Smelley will officiate. Interment will follow at Camp Ground Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until service time on Monday. Erma Holmes Poland was born November 4, 1923 in Wolfe City, TX to Roy and Rhoda Sheffield Holmes. While still young, her family moved to Marshall, TX, where at the age of six, she began helping on the farm picking cotton, pulling corn and putting peanuts into the crib for winter. Erma started and graduated from Karnack High School. After graduation, Erma and sister Wilma were employed at the Louisiana Ordinance Plant in Minden, LA. She worked in the shipping department as a shipping clerk. She worked there until the end of World War II. While working at the plant, Erma met Claude Poland. They married on September 11, 1945 and moved to Bienville, LA. In 1946, Erma was hired on by the Bienville Post Office as a substitute Clerk. In 1954 she became Postmaster until her retirement in 1988, with over 42 years of service. After the passing of her husband, Erma loved to keep busy with travel, visiting family, hunting deer, fishing and having 'clean fun'. The following is an excerpt from Erma's autobiography.   "Some people say they are 'Bored', But I never get that way, for there are too many things I enjoy doing. Such as: 'Playing with my gran-kids' 'Working in my Flowers and Mowing the Grass' 'Tilling and Planting my Garden' 'Canning and Cooking the Vegetables' 'Visiting and Checking on Aunt Ruth Poland and Miss Ealia Wise daily' 'Playing Rook' with my 'friends', Marie White and Nellie and Judy Upshaw' 'Helping Sewilla clean the Cemetery' Taking 'Walks' every evening with my 'puppies', 'Eating the right foods', 'Sleeping good at night (after watching 'Matt Dillon' and working the 'Crossword puzzle') and all the things that will keep me "Young' at any age. In Other Words: "I AM HAPPY"!!!!!!!!!! " Erma is preceded in death by her husband Claude Poland, son John Poland, step-daughter Sewilla Poland Hayes, grandson Jacob Poland, brothers Roy Holmes and John Holmes, sisters Merle Dixon and Wilma Morgan. She is survived by her daughter Melba Richardson and husband Ben, sister Jane Vallandingham and husband D.T., brother David Holmes and wife Peggy, grandchildren Kevin Green and wife Sara, Kimberly Presley, Jared Poland, Dan Loe and wife Bet, Ronald Loe and wife Paula and Curtis Loe and wife Sheila, great grandchildren Elli Presley; Natalie and Nathan Green; Emma, James and Stella Poland; Kristen and Casey Loe; Lindsay, Lauren and Michael Loe; and Che, Chris and Jamie Loe, also by numerous other nieces, nephews and other family and friends. Pallbearers will be Jared Poland, Rusty Poland, Dan Loe, Wesley Boddie, Spenser Loe and Matt Lang.