Geraldine (Gerri) Massdin Pollard, transitioned peacefully in her home 6/1/2020 of natural causes. She was born March 30, 1945 in Berlin, Md.  to Thomas Massdin and Anna Pierce Massdin. She attended Worcester County Elementary for her early education, later moving to Pennsylvania where she attended Exeter Jr. High and graduating from Daniel Boone High School Class of 1963. She earned her Associates Degree in Gerontological Social Work from Reading Area Community College 1984, while working at Palmers Candy and Berkshire Knitting Mill. She personified her desire to help others once she received her degree as she worked for the Berks County Office of Aging and Berks County Children and Youth Services, while assisting and advocating for the services for melanated elderly, melanated mothers and melanated young children retiring from Berks County. Late husband Robert S. Pollard, deceased 1995.

She leaves behind 2 sons, Jerome K. Massdin of Frackville, Pa. and Robert D. Pollard of Reading, Pa. 1 granddaughter Tanija A. Pollard and 1 grandson Messyah D. Pollard both of Reading, Pa and 1 sister Shirley Taylor, Berlin, Md. She is preceded by 2 brothers Thomas Massdin and Daniel Massdin, 2 sisters Clementine Ayers and Mary Massdin. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Gerri was a devoted giver, who displayed the ultimate gift by helping others as often as she could. Volunteering for various senior centers, coordinating activities, and expressing joy throughout Reading. Her love for her grandchildren was the kind of joy that only could be described as, you would have to be one of her grandchildren to understand. She shared the spirit of a beautiful day, her infectious smile, and kind personality truly helped many. She loved to debate politics as she was well versed in the constitution, she was an avid reader of the constitution and her bible. She was the ultimate thrifty shopper as she had a coupon, for a coupon, for a coupon(smile). A God-like Warrior with a delicate soul, a very soft voice, and strong backbone. The voice of reason and heart of a giant, has now transitioned on to be a gracious ancestor. Her final words requested “God is Good, All the Time I am Blessed”

Memorial services will be in Ocean City, MD July 2020.

Family Tributes 

Dear, Nana I wish I got to see you one last time. I wish we got to go to red lobster one more time (even though I can’t eat there anymore), I wish we could’ve rode on the bus one more time, I wish we could go to friendly’s one more time, I wish I could see you one more time. I remember when we walked from red lobster to the mall and me helping you across the street. You were always so nice and made sure everyone got what they deserved. I used to get mad at how nice you were because even the stuff you liked you would give away no matter what. As long as the other person was happy you felt okay. I wish I got to see you one last time-Messyah 
 

A Tribute to my Grandmother, 

I have been trying to find the words and trying to piece everything together for a couple of days and haven’t been able to come up with anything to truly describe how I feel. The most amazing person I have had the pleasure of knowing for the past 24 years of my life has unexpectedly left this Earth. I am so heartbroken. My world is rocked. This is a pain I wish on no one. A pain I cannot explain at all. A pain so deep I keep begging for it to stop. One minute, I’m fine and the next I completely lose it. I just wish I got to say goodbye. This has changed me forever. My Grandmother, Geraldine, was my true breath of fresh air. My little brother and I were her only grandkids and she cherished us as her own, helping to raise me when my mom and dad were in college. The things I have learned from this outstanding woman are things a school could never teach me. Anyone that knew her knew how amazing she was. She was never angry, never upset, ALWAYS smiling and cheerful, and if you knew her, you knew her cheerful, joyful voice from anywhere. The kindest, selfless, and coolest. She was the closest thing to perfect in my eyes. I have friends who have only met her one time and still remember the impact she has left on them to this day. I told her everything imaginable, from my first kiss to all of my fears and in her eyes, I was never wrong. She never cursed, never spanked me, never raised her voice at me. It was always love. The love she gave me was a love I never knew I needed as a little black girl at such a young age but it’s a love that I still feel today, even stronger now. A grandmother’s love is truly undefeated, but a black grandmother’s love is one of a kind. Nana, I hope I made you proud. I hope I continue to make you proud. Everything I do from this moment forward will be in your memory. I know you so desperately wanted to see me graduate college, and now I have no excuse not to. I wanted you to see me walk across that stage and to look in the crowd and see that glowing smile so badly. I wanted you to be at my future wedding and us dance to “Before I Let Go” like we used to at your old house on Linden St. I wanted you to be present for my first child’s birth so they had a chance to know the amazing woman that I had the pleasure of knowing. I know God has a plan and I know you are no longer in any pain but I just wish I could talk to you one more time. I wish I could hear you say “Hi Tanija” in only the way that you said it. I wish I could hear your laugh again. I wish we could have one more Old Country Buffet, Friendly’s, or Olive Garden lunch date and talk about everything from politics to Beyoncé then walk around the mall and get our nails done and an Auntie Anne’s pretzel. I wish we got to go on the Ocean City, MD trip we were planning when this summer. I just wish for one more time with you. Is that selfish of me? Oh Nana, I miss you so much. I truly don’t know how I’m going to get over this. You lived a great life and I am extremely honored to have been your granddaughter. I know for a fact that you are watching over my dad, Messyah, and I. I know you will live on forever through us. We miss you terribly but I know you’re somewhere much greater and at peace and knowing that, brings me peace. There aren’t enough words to describe how amazing you are. I hope you are resting peacefully. Give Poppop a kiss and tell him I love and miss him and give my grandmom June a hug from all of us down here. God’s gonna get tired of y’all 2 talking up a storm lol I love you more than this life itself, Nana Gerry
Rest peacefully, beautiful -Tanija
 

Dear Mama, 

As I awakened this day I knew I had to pay you a visit, something felt different. Your voice is playing over and over in my head. I used to tell myself I wanted to transition on before you, I could not envision my world without your physical presence, how selfish of me. I am so honored to be your son, you instilled in me the devotion to fight for what I believe in and know, be strong in my convictions, NEVER waiver, speak clear, channel your passion, and do not give up. Dear Mama, I used to think I’d never be able to go on without you, but now I feel because of you I MUST go harder. 75 years on this earth, 44 spent molding me, from our political debates to our sports bets and conversations. To conversations about our ancestors to reading the constitution to putting teachers in check concerning my behavior. Dear Mama, do you remember cussing the teachers and principal out when they tried putting me in remedial reading, you said “ y’all full of s### and must think I don’t give a f### about my child” that was the only time I heard you cuss...Yesterday Olga asked how you were doing, and I said you are good, that was not the case, Dear Mama you are beyond good you are the epitome of Black Excellence, Black Motherhood, and what my God looks like. You are the totality of my being. Dear Mama, I remember asking you why I was never beaten, you said the slave master used to do that to us, you don’t deserve to be hit. Later on you told me use logic and facts when speaking, you told me my life is made up of decisions and consequences. Dear Mama, I’ll do anything for you to pickup the phone one more time. Dear Mama, your Grand Children are my extensions of You. Dear Mama, tell PopPop I’m just getting started fighting for our people. Dear Mama, the newest Ancestor I vow to give my all to our people. Dear Mama, I am you, I will breathe for you, your soul is my soul and my soul is your soul. That’s on my Mama...Forever walking together with like mother and son-The Child Who Could Do No Wrong 
 

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