Janis Lee Parham died July 14, 2019 at the age of 81, 12 days after her 64th marriage anniversary (late husband Lt. Col. (Ret.) John Snowden Wilson Parham having died in 1992). One of her lasting contributions to the world was her gift of music. When she was not playing country music with the Mavericks, she played solo for military events at Ft. Bragg, NC. Her music was requested when American and Saudia Arabian military leaders met to discuss solutions for the gas shortage of the 1970s. It was not uncommon for an international guest to remove a medal from their uniform and lay it on the piano saying, “Thank you for playing music from my country.” On October 11, 1988, General Xu, Huizi from China wrote her a poem in Chinese after an entertainment reception at Ft. Bragg that read, “Your excellent playing, beautiful voice, and lovely presence have softened barriers between people and peoples. No one speaks the language of music more effectively.” Of recent, she sang with the Hickory Choral Society until she could not stand up comfortably. Three HCS members played harp, flute and violin in her room days before her death. Lifelong friend John Tosco, wife Amy and family members celebrated her life by playing live music in her room every day.
Her love for music passed to her four children: John S.W. Parham, Jr. and wife Sarah in Hickory, NC; George Lee Parham and wife Jan in Hickory, NC; David Covington Parham of Garner, NC; and Janis Parham Piland and husband Greg in Springfield, IL. Also surviving her are four grandchildren: Rebecca Lee Johnson and husband Chris in High Point, NC; David Walker Parham in Greenville, SC; Nathan Wilson Piland and wife Victoria in Chicago, IL; and Carly Deanne Piland in Normal, IL. Her two great grandchildren are Caroline Lee Johnson and Luke Walker Johnson in High Point, NC.
A memorial service will be held on August 3rd at 11:00AM at Peace Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, NC (3203 Ramsey Street), followed by a gravesite service and burial at Lafayette Memorial Park in Fayetteville, NC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tosco Music at www.toscomusic.org. Comments and condolences may be made at www.catawbamemorialpark.com.
