Ms. Pauline Elizabeth Gravlee, 86, of Florence, passed away Thursday, October 14, 2010. Her family will receive friends Sunday evening, October 17, from 7-8pm at Elkins Funeral Home, Florence. The funeral will begin Monday at 2pm in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Kevin Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, AL, Tuesday morning at 11.
Ms. Gravlee was a graduate of Samford University and the Vanderbilt University School of Education. She came to Florence in 1954 as Dean of Women and retired as Dean of Student Life and Associate Professor of Sociology in 1987. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Florence, and taught Sunday School and involved herself with the missions efforts there. Among her civic and professional interests was the American Association of University Women, of which she served twice as Shoals Branch President and Alabama State President. She also worked with the March of Dimes.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Vondal Gravlee; sister-in-law, Freda Gravlee; and parents, Walter Sylvester Gravlee and Pearl Tanner Gravlee.
She is survived by her niece, Sylvia Williams, of Birmingham; nephew, Kyle Gravlee, of Birmingham; great nephew, Sam Williams, of Boston, Mass.; and great nieces, Freda Jane Williams, of Sarasota, FL., and Elizabeth Williams, of Birmingham.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Pauline Gravlee Scholarship at the University of North Alabama or to First Baptist Church of Florence.
You may sign the online register at www.elkinsfh.com. Elkins Funeral Home is assisting the family.