Pollard was born in 1873, the daughter of Charles T. Phillips (a Sergeant Major in the 9th Virginia Infantry) and Mary Hickman.

[5] They had one child who died in infancy and three children who lived into adulthood, including:[6][5][7] In the 1910s Pollard became active in the women's suffrage movement in the United States, and was a member of the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia.

As first lady, she was involved in historical preservation and horticultural beautification pursuits.

[13][14][15] She supervised the planting of dogwoods and boxwoods on the grounds of the Virginia State Capitol and the Executive Mansion.

[16] Pollard suffered from severe arthritis and was confined to a wheelchair by the time she was first lady.