Hentz-Polk grew up in the delta of northern Mississippi, the subject of her memoir, Memories of the Mississippi Delta, 2nd Ed. (248pp. including a picture gallery). It covers the history-making 1950s and 60s, her childhood and teenage years in Lambert and Marks, and adult life in Columbus, Ohio.
Throughout her life, she played many roles—from household and farm helper, wife and mother, educator and club advisor, to literary magazine editor, motivational speaker, and author. She was a dedicated English teacher for 30 years in Columbus, Ohio. Her dynamic teaching style brought inclusion in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and a feature article in the Columbus Dispatch.
In addition to writing, she has shared her poetry in an open mic event with Ray McNiece and in the prestigious “Power of Words” event in Columbus’ Lincoln Theatre. Buckeyes and Magnolias, her poetry collection, is being revised. It includes light and philosophical verse, sports, education, love, African-American history themes. She is currently compiling two creative non-fiction collections—Essays on African-Americans and Their History and The Art of Teaching and Learning.
Her speeches, workshops, and performances are well attended. She volunteers and contributes to local community groups. Photography, exercising, reading, and traveling occupy her spare time. During the summer of 2014, Hentz-Polk wrote, edited, photographed and designed the cover of her memoir and traveled to 10 European cities.
She graduated from Quitman County HS, now Madison Palmer. Nicey holds degrees in English Education and Literature from Coahoma Community College, Jackson State, summa cum laude, and Ohio State universities. As a life-long learner, she has completed post-graduate work, attends writer’s workshops, and studies independently. She has three adult children.
To learn more about Memories of the Mississippi Delta, 2nd ed., click on the links below: