Kathryn Dale Parker

A celebration of the life of Kathryn Dale Parker, 95 years old, from Brandon, MS will be at 11:00 A.M. in Magee, MS Thursday, October 4, 2018 at the Magee Cemetery. After a lengthy illness she passed away at 9:45 A.M., September 30 at the Arbor Nursing Home where she had been for about three years and three years earlier at The Orchard Assisted Living along with her husband, Billy Parker, who died exactly one month ago on September 1, 2018.

She was born to her parents, Nannie Mae Smith Dale and Roland Hall Dale on June 12, 1923 in Mount Olive, MS and their son, Roland H. Dale was born October 30, 1927. She graduated from Magee High School in 1941 where she was Valedictorian. After her mother’s death, also in 1941, she attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Brookhaven, MS where she was an honor student, a leader and officer in several clubs, and was selected Miss Co-Lin. She next attended Belhaven College in Jackson, MS and continued to be an honor student and was selected Miss Belhaven. She graduated in 1943. She was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ as evidenced by her membership and attendance of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, MS, as an officer in her Sunday School class and Mission Circle. For about 30 years she attended monthly The Explorer’s Bible Study Class for prayer and study at First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, MS.

She was attentive and thoughtful to family and friends and she was loved by many. After college, she was an airline stewardess for Delta Airlines and later worked for the Bank of Magee in Magee, MS. This followed with a lifetime position with the Mississippi State Department of Education, Jackson, MS in the School Food Service Division as Supervisor of one of the four State divisions. She retired after 30 years and during that time she had received numerous awards and honors and served in leadership positions. She enjoyed traveling overseas and in the USA. She lost count of the times she enjoyed trips to New York City. She continued to enjoy traveling after retirement.

She was a true southern lady. She was known for her strength of character. She often referred to the fond memory of her 80th birthday party and the 90 friends and family who came on June 12, 2003. She was known to her friends as Kathryn, Kacky, or Kay, and sometimes Kat. Kathryn was a Master Knitter and knit many gifts for others. She enjoyed cooking and entertaining, often hosting fish fry dinners with the fish her husband caught from Ross Barnett Reservoir. Kathryn was loved beyond measure and many mourn her loss.

She was preceded in death besides her parents and husband, by her brother Roland Hall Dale, Jr. in 2012 and by her great nephew and namesake, Coleman Parker Wilson in 2016.

She is survived by her sister in law, Teenie Coleman Dale; her niece, Christy Dale Wilson (John), of Brandon, MS; her nephew, Frank Coleman Dale (Terri), of Southlake, TX; great nieces and nephews, Reverend Jacob Dale Adams-Wilson (Reverend Sarah Jo Adams-Wilson) of Starkville, MS; Christian Kelly Wilson of Diamondhead, MS; and Bess Wilson Laporte (Nick) of Diamondhead, MS; Ryan Dale Carson (Cody) of Dallas, TX; Haley Dale Brown (Corban) of Austin, TX; and Roland Hall Dale, III of College Station, TX. She is survived by great-great nieces and nephews, Leah Nicole Laporte, David Alexander Laporte, and Stephen Gabrielle Laporte, all of Diamondhead, MS and Cohen Leigh Carson and Cooper Coleman Carson both of Dallas, TX.

Funeral arrangements include visitation at Parkway Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 3, from 2:00-3:00. A graveside service will be held at the Magee Cemetery, Magee, MS at 11:00 Thursday, October 4, 2018 at the Dale family plot where her parents, brother, and husband are buried. In case of rain, the service will be held at Magee Presbyterian Church on Second Avenue in Magee. Reverend Jacob Dale Adams-Wilson and Reverend Sarah Jo Adams-Wilson will officiate. Her great niece, Bess Wilson Laporte, will sing Kathryn’s song request, “Amazing Grace”. Her nephews and nephews in law will be her pallbearers.

Memorials may be sent to Magee Presbyterian Church, 327 Second Avenue SW, Magee, MS 39111.