Faye Pollock Popper

Faye Pollock Popper, a vibrant, curious, and trailblazing woman passed away peacefully in her home in Buckhead, Atlanta, GA at the age of 91.

Born in Goldsboro, North Carolina on September 7, 1934, Faye was the daughter of Richard Pollock of Faison, NC, and Rebecca Long Pollock of Elroy, NC. She was raised in Hampton, Virginia, where she graduated from Hampton High School in 1952—voted "Most Independent"—a title she proudly lived up to her entire life.

Faye's intellectual and adventurous spirit led her to pursue education at Richmond Professional Institute (now VCU), where she earned a secretarial certificate in 1954. She continued coursework at George Washington University and Boston University before graduating magna cum laude from Mercer University in 1959, with a major in French and minors in English and economics.

She married Joseph W. Popper, JR. in 1960 and raised their two children in Macon. Though they divorced in 1987, they remained bound by the family they created together.

Faye is survived by her son Joseph W. Popper, III (Nicole) of San Francisco and their daughters Jacquline and Isabelle Popper; and by her daughter Catherine Popper (Noah Eckhouse) and their children Michela (fiancée Dan Whelan) and Eli Eckhouse. She is also survived by her sister Geraldine "Deanie" Brown of North Charleston, SC, and Deanie's son Robert (Brenda) Brown.

Family and community was at the center of everything Faye stood for. She spent the last twenty years of her life in the Meridian Buckhead condo building, where it seemed everyone knew and loved her. Her neighbors and staff felt like family and her family felt like royalty when visiting, as everyone in the building always had a story or kind word to share about Faye. She felt the same way about her community at the Carlos Museum.

Known as GF (gramma Faye) to her adoring grandchildren, Faye loved to travel to and with her family, from trips to Italy with Catherine to Torrey Pines, CA to watch son Joe paraglide. For her 90th birthday celebration, she traveled without assistance to San Francisco to celebrate with all of her children and grandchildren, attending live performances, museums, sushi night and even riding in a Waymo robo-taxi where she remarked "my daddy had a Model A and now I've been in a driverless car - I really have seen it all!"

Faye's career was as diverse as it was impressive. She worked at NASA, in the physics department at Harvard University, and at the Macon Telegraph. She sold Avon door to door, managed real estate deals, and even sold phone systems. But it was at Merrill Lynch where she left her greatest professional mark—rising to Vice President and managing $100 million in client assets. She retired in 1999, having carved out space in a male-dominated industry and championing the advancement of women along the way.

Social justice was also very important. Faye was a lifelong Democrat and a passionate advocate for gun control and women's rights. She marched in the Sandy Hook protest and countless women's rights demonstrations over the decades. She was an early member of the League of Women Voters in Macon and helped found a women's political organization to increase female representation in business and government.

She loved opera with a devotion that lasted her entire adult life—first inspired by a high school performance of Carmen at age 22. She helped found the Macon Opera Guild and was a longtime supporter, volunteer, and patron of the Atlanta Opera. Art, music, literature, and museums brought her endless joy, and she proudly served for years as a docent at the Carlos Museum at Emory University.
Faye's sense of style was legendary. The daughter of a seamstress, she had a lifelong eye for fashion and was always ready to offer honest and loving advice—especially when it came to accessories. She never left home without lipstick and a scarf.

She traveled extensively across the world, including to China, Thailand, Singapore, Russia, Scandinavia, Europe, and Egypt—bringing her curiosity, openness, and generous spirit wherever she went. She had the rare gift of being able to talk to anyone, anywhere, and maintained a large circle of friends and supporters through every season of life.

She was predeceased by her former husband Joseph W. Popper, Jr. of Macon, GA and her brother Dees Pollock (Martha), of Hampton, VA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Carlos Museum at Emory University, 571 S. Kilgo Circle, Decatur, GA 30322—a place close to Faye's heart.