Mercedes Polite

Mercedes Clayton Bolden Polite of Tampa, Florida passed away on Thursday, December 30, 2021. A Celebration of her Life and Legacy will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at the Allen Temple A.M.E. Church, 2101 Lowe Street, Tampa, Florida 33605, with Apostle Thomas Hadden and Apostle Robert Douglas, officiating. The service will be live streamed at:  allentempletampa.org. Interment will follow at Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery. Please follow the CDC Guidelines. MASKS REQUIRED.

Mercedes was born to Harrison and Rosa Lee Clayton in Sanford, Florida but became a resident of Tampa at an early age. She attended schools in the Hillsborough County Public Schools System. She married the late Nathaniel Bolden, Sr. in 1947 and to this union seven children were born.  Later in life she married again (Bobby), and shortly thereafter, became a widow.

Mercedes was very active in church until illness kept her from participating.  She loved and served her church family effortlessly, as she would her own family. Mercedes played the keyboard and directed the children choir at Miracle Temple COGIC. She served on the Missionary Board and spoke at various church functions. She loved working in the Young People Willing Worker (YPWW) and Sunday School ministries.  She was a member of the Citywide Mission Prayer Band and musician for the community choir at Ella Encore Senior Center in Tampa.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Deacon Harrison Clayton, Sr. and Mother Rosa Lee Clayton; husband, Robert Polite; all of her siblings; and two children, Reginald Bolden and Brenda Hines.

She leaves to cherish loving memories of her life and legacy, children, Marcia Bolden Norflee, Nathaniel Bolden, Jr., Dwight Bolden, Terry Bolden and Michael Bolden; grandchildren, Yura Bolden, Michael Hubbard, Yaphett Bolden (Renae), Reginald Bolden (Marissa), Juran Bolden, Benita Kelly, Derwin Ashley (Kay), Frederick Ashley (Betty); Grishelda Valme’ (Rony), Victor Norflee (Tishka), Deanna Baddley (Henry);  Nathaniel Bolden III, Toyca Cook, Anetria Bolden, Bashima Bolden, Nicole Slater, Shernita Dukes, Michael Bolden, Jr., and Rashad Bolden; great grands, Lashae White, Diamond Bolden, Kenny Bolden, Jacquez Reese-Bolden, Dianisty Bolden, Yaphett Bolden, Jr., Isaiah Bolden, Jaden Bolden, Adel Bolden, James Kelly (Shey), FraNita Kelly, Ashley Kelly, Carmen Ashley, Derwin Ashley, Jr., Tyler Ashley, Ethan Ashley, Darion Ashley, Joshua Ashley; Shauntrice Simmons (Patrick), Phillip-Victor Norflee, Caleb Norflee, Brendan Baddley, Remus Bulmer, Joy Cook, Kelvin Mitchell, Jr., Jenaeci Bolden, Nyla Mitchell, Natekemma Preston, Eulanna Pickett, Gregory Spain, Jr., Rashad Spain, LaMica Wilkins, Jevon Crawford, Tierra McCauley, Kwian Slater, Jacques Bolden, Reginald Bolden III, Rasiah Bolden; great-great grands, Gerald Reeves, Geramiah Reeves, Nasir Kelly, Naija Kelly, Nalie Kelly; nieces, Cheryl Ray (Willie), Lori Shannon, Yolanda Fenderson (John), Regina Brown (Reginald), Edricka Woods, Deneen Luster, Viv Lori Locklear (Elmer), Donna Sanders, Sonya Martin, Rosita Clayton, Donna Reed (Samuel), and more; nephews, Charles Luster (Valencia), Curtis Clayton (Milanda), Lawrence Baker, Edward Woods, Jr., and more; cousins, Frank Revels, John Hunter (Jeannine) , Craig Clayton (Jennifer), Dale Clayton (Pamela), Ozell Ward (Pamela), Donald Cunningham, Rosalyn Berry (Perry), Loretta Clayton, Geraldine Clayton, Gayle Hunter, Jaaki Perry, Carol Swift, and more; spiritual daughter, Mrs. Mary Malcolm and family; best friend, Ms. Gwendolyn Keenan and family; and a host of other relatives and friends.  Visitation for Ms. Polite will be held on Friday, January 14, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33606.

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