Pauline Judith (Messier) Frank

Pauline Judith Frank, 80, of Ocean Isle Beach, NC passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 26, 2026, after battling Alzheimer’s.

Pauline (Polly) was born in Binghampton, NY on July 8, 1945, and raised in West Orange, NJ.  She was one of four children born to the late Charles and Helen Saunders Messier. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, James (Jim) Long, and Gerald (Jerry) Frank, whom she married years following Jim's passing. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Pete Messier.

Polly went to Duke University and became avid Duke basketball fan where she earned her bachelor’s degree and met her first husband, Jim Long.  While her most prized role in life was being a mother, she was fulfilled by her work in volunteer management and the true friendships she made there, Polly was most proud of being an author. She not only loved to write (a cat always by her side), but also to sing, dance, travel and spend time with treasured family. Following Jim’s passing, she and her daughter lived in Durham, NC spending countless hours traveling to visit the Long and Messier families around the country. Some of her most fun memories were those summer trips and family holidays where cards were always dealt and wine was flowing.  After working in Northern Virginia (Reston), great times were had when she and Jerry moved to Bluemont, VA in the blue ridge mountains, with time spent hiking, cooking, playing Frisbee golf, horseshoes and harvesting the bounty from their vegetable garden. And don't forget snow angels in the winter with her grandson!  After retiring to New Bern, NC, very special moments were spent with Jerry, still enjoying gardening, fishing and playing pickleball. She and her daughter were fortunate to spend time together in Switzerland and Germany, hosted by Polly’s best childhood friend, Laura. After losing Jerry, Polly enjoyed taking cruises with her sister, Denise, and joined a writer’s group in New Bern, where she made lifelong friends.

Polly leaves behind many who loved her; siblings, Marilyn Whitmore of Statesville, NC, Denise Wilkens of Flemington, NJ; David Messier, Sr., of Fort Myers, FL; daughter, Stacy Harrell (Michael) of Ocean Isle Beach, NC; stepson, Duane Frank (Lesley) of Dallas, PA; stepdaughter, DeAnn Sumner (Gary) of Penn Valley, CA; grandchildren, Dylan Frank (Emily), Michael Paul Harrell, II, Ian Frank, Will Sumner (Loni), Bethany Vazquez (Hernan); great grandchildren, Lewis, Athena.

She was also a member of Camp United Methodist Church of Shallotte, NC and an active member of First Presbyterian Church of New Bern, NC.

A private family celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorials be sent in Polly's name to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation, 1414 Physicians Dr., Wilmington NC 28401, or online at LifeCare.org/donate.

Online condolences are encouraged and may be sent to the family at www.fulwoodfuneralservice.com

Michael J Fulwood Funeral & Cremation Service