Life’s Reflections
On the evening of Thursday, October 6, 2016, God in His Infinite Wisdom and Everlasting Love called from our midst, Yvonne Sonia Marie Pollard. Yvonne, affectionately known as Sonia was born in Belize City, Belize, Central America on February 4, 1939, to the late Osborne and Roslyn Pipersburg.
Yvonne grew up in Belize where she attended Ebenezer Elementary School and subsequently graduated from Wesley College. Her talents were many. As a child, Sonia loved to play marbles and often beat the most skilled boys in the neighborhood. At Wesley College, she was an outstanding student, a singer and the youngest softball player on the Belizean National Team. As a beloved daughter, of Rose Stone it was inherent that Sonia could sew, cook, and bake the best Belizean bun, pound cake and carrot cake; she also liked to fish and care for others.
When Sonia and her son Sean moved to Santa Barbara California to unite with family, she joined the Greater Hope Missionary Baptist Church. There, she adopted the Missionary role, of Loving God, working hard, being a generous giver, and praising God as a choir member.
It was at Greater Hope where Yvonne met Arthur McNair. They were married in 2002, and resided in Ventura CA. Sonia’s profound understanding of God’s love was illustrated in every aspect of her life: she was a beloved wife, a doting mother, a gracious mother-in-law, a supportive sister, a loving aunt, a proud grandmother, a loyal friend, an avid Laker’s Fan and an outstanding Health Care Provider.
Yvonne was a highly esteemed Certified Nursing Assistant at The Samarkand Retirement Communities of Santa Barbara CA. She was passionate about caring for her patients and received numerous recognition awards throughout her 35-year career; when she retired in 2012; she was still an invaluable member of the Samarkand Team and continued to work there, part-time in Patients’ Services.
Yvonne leaves to cherish her loving memory: her husband, Arthur McNair; son, Sean and his wife La Trice Pollard of Gardena, CA; grandchildren, Isaiah, Khalif, and Ky-Mani Pollard; sisters, Valerie Harvey of Deerfield, FL, Myrtle Harris of Santa Barbara, CA, Ethel Smith of Santa Barbara, CA; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She was predeceased by her sisters, Daphne Pipersburg, Crystalline Pipersburg; and brother, Lloyd Pipersburg.
The Memorial Service for Yvonne Pollard is Saturday, October 15, 2016, 11:00am at Greater Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 430 E. Figueroa Street, Santa Barbara.