On Sunday, June 28, 2026, God called Reginald Ulysses Polk, lovingly known as "Reggie," home to eternal rest. On his final day, Reggie was surrounded by the people he loved most-his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandson, and AJ. His family had taken him from rehab for a special family day, riding together to Lewes, Delaware, one of the simple joys Reggie loved. He spent the day happy, peaceful, joking, reminiscing, and taking in the sights. As they rode, Reggie quietly and peacefully passed from this life.
Reggie was born on February 26, 1960, in Salisbury, Maryland, to Ulysses Samuel Arthur Polk, Jr. and Doris Reece Cottman Polk. He grew up in Allen, Maryland, where he was raised in a home filled with love, laughter, faith in God, and strong family values. As an only child, Reggie was deeply loved and cherished, and from an early age he learned the importance of hard work, devotion, and caring for family. He especially enjoyed their times spent camping, traveling, and visiting family and friends.
Reggie graduated from Parkside High School in 1979, where he also studied bricklaying through vocational school. He learned carpentry while working alongside his father, building a close father-and-son bond that remained strong throughout their lives. While in school he worked for English's commissary, as a caterer. After high school, Reggie became a dump truck driver until he later became a bus contractor for the Wicomico County Board of Education, serving until his health began to fail.
Throughout his life, Reggie loved cars, comics, movies, and music. It wasn't unusual to find him at a car show, or the drag strip. He'd often say, "I've got to get out there to see my lil brother (his cousin Vincent Wade) race.". His favorites were American muscle cars, especially Ford Mustangs. Reggie himself was a bass guitar player. He played in three bands called "Phantasia", "Enigma" and later a gospel group called "Williams & Ivey", and occasionally filled in playing in bands with some of his closest friends.
On July 20, 1985, Reggie married the love of his life, April Lynn Hayward of Salisbury, Maryland. From their union came two children, Ashley Lynn Polk and Reginald Branden Polk. Reggie and April shared a close and loving life together, rarely apart and always devoted to their children, granddaughters Taina, Paris, and Londyn, and great-grandson Kaedyn. Family truly was everything to Reggie.
Reggie believed you should follow your passions and embrace your gifts. He lived life with a mindset of abundance. If he got it, there was always a way for those around him to obtain it too. Anytime he learned something, he wasn't afraid to share. Whether it was carpentry knowledge or driving (cars, trucks, or buses), he made it a point to help others around him learn too. We pull each other up together. Reggie's life was marked by love, laughter, faith, and devotion to family. He fought a good fight, and now he rests in peace.
Everlasting memories of Reggie will be cherished by his loving wife of 40 years, April; his daughter, Ashley Polk; his son, Branden Polk (and his girlfriend Darita); his granddaughters, Taina, Paris, and Londyn Garcia; his great-grandson, Kaedyn Garland; AJ; his sister-cousins, Chandra (Bernard) Ward and Patricia Nutter; Bonnie Molock and a host of relatives and friends.
A Visitation will be held at 9:00 AM on Friday, July 24, 2026, at Holloway Funeral Home, 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 24, 2026, in the funeral home. Burial will be in Parsons Cemetery, Salisbury, MD.
