December 15, 2023, 93, Mount Olive —
The Rev. Blanche Elizabeth Sasser Pollard passed away peacefully on Friday, December 15, 2023.
Blanche, known to many as “Aunt Blanche,” was born in Mount Olive, NC on March 24, 1930, to Reverend Richard Joseph and Sally Lewis Sasser. She was the third of five children, an older brother (Franklin) and sister (Catherine), and two younger brothers (Joe and Leon). She grew up in the Thunder Swamp Pentecostal Holiness Church in Mount Olive and has been a member there since 1943. After graduation from Mount Olive High School in 1948, she continued her formal education at Holmes Bible College in Greenville, SC, following in the footsteps of her father and several paternal aunts. In 1952, Blanche graduated from Holmes and became a licensed minister with the North Carolina Pentecostal Holiness Church Conference that same year.
Blanche met and married John Pollard in September of 1963 and moved to John’s home in Vanceboro, NC, where she accepted the role of stepmother to his four children. After her move to Vanceboro, she became an active participant in Holly Hill Pentecostal Holiness Church where John was a member.
Blanche was called to pastor several churches, including Friendship Pentecostal Holiness Church in Aurora, NC, and Goose Creek Pentecostal Holiness Church. In 1974, she appealed to the church conference to allow her to take the ordination test and became the first ordained female minister of the NC Pentecostal Holiness Conference.
Over the years, she served in lead positions on various NC Pentecostal Holiness Conference boards including Lifeliners, Women’s Ministries, Christian Education, Retired Ministers, and Archives. She served a lengthy and meaningful term as Happy Hearts director from October 1994 to October 2018.
An adventurous lady who was always looking for a laugh, Blanche enjoyed camping, playing Scrabble, bowling, and Southern Gospel music. She delighted many at family dinners or a covered dish with her angel biscuits or homemade pimento cheese. Her glorious ascension into Heaven mirrored her life, which she lived “on Sasser time” — where being “on time” is when you get there.
Blanche is survived by a stepson, Ron Pollard; nieces, Beth Hill (Sprunt), Sharon Creech (Stan), and Elaine Pittman; nephews, Franklin M. Sasser, Jr. (Sue), and Jerry Sasser. Since she had no children of her own, her great and great-great-nieces and nephews were very dear to her, including Don Hill (Lizzie) and daughters, Cate and Mary Martin; Kimberly Smith (Boone) and daughters, Annabelle, Gracie, and Mary Catherine; Candace Fox (Michael) and daughters, Livi and Charlee; Daniel Creech (Emily) and son, Gavin; and Jordan Creech (Alison) and daughter, Emerson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Pollard; her parents, and her siblings.
Blanche’s family would like to express their deep gratitude to the staff at the Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation in Goldsboro, as well as all caregivers who assisted Blanche throughout the last four years.
The family will receive friends at Thunder Swamp Pentecostal Holiness Church on Monday, December 18, from 1;00 – 2:00 p.m. A funeral service, officiated by the Rev. Karen Lucas, will occur at 2:00 p.m. A private family burial will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Holmes Bible College (Greenville, SC), or to the ministries of Thunder Swamp Pentecostal Holiness Church (Mount Olive, NC).
