Gail Thomas Pollock
Gail Thomas Pollock of Calera, Alabama, passed on April 8, 2025 receiving the care of ExpectCare Hospice.
Gail was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 18, 1950 to Betty and W. Neil Thomas, Jr. Gail was raised on Lookout Mountain and graduated from Girls’ Preparatory School in 1968. She was presented in the 1969 Cotton Ball and served as a princess the following year. She pursued a degree in art history at Salem College but her eye for style led her to a degree in fashion merchandising from Massey College.
She met and married John Pollock of Trenton, NC in 1972. She committed herself to being a mother to Allison until stepping back into the retail world at T.H.Payne Company. As a member of the Chattanooga Junior League, she served on many philanthropic boards, helped publish Dinner on the Diner cookbook, and managed the Bargain Mart thrift store. She was a founding board member of Chattanooga’s affiliate of Habitat for Humanity. She found her career in non-profits as executive director of Habitat, then The Chattanooga History Center.
Her life and love moved to Calera, Al., when her granddaughter, Emma, was born. She made a home and family with a collection of friends from St. Andrew’s Episcopal and Calera Baptist Churches.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W Neil Thomas, Jr. and her former spouse, John T. Pollock, II.
Gail is survived by her brother, Hon. W Neil Thomas, III (Anne), her daughter, Allison Pollock Carmichael (William), and her beloved granddaughter, Emma Lavens Carmichael. She is also survived by nephews, W. Neil Thomas, IV (Amy), David Thomas (Amanda), Michael Thomas (Amy), Greg Thomas, and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Gail’s life and 75th birthday will be held on April 18, 2025 at 1 p.m. at St. Andrew’s in Montevallo. Visitation with the family is at noon.