Grizell Thompson Haynie Parsons

Grizell (née Haynie) Thompson Parsons, a native of Heathsville, Northumberland County, Virginia, was born to the late Harvey Johnson Haynie and Mary Delia (née Connor) Haynie on March 2, 1925, the youngest of five children. Grizell received her education in Northumberland County Public Schools. She graduated from Julius Rosenwald High School with Highest Honors. After high school and a year of college, she worked in Baltimore.

On August 30, 1947 in Baltimore, Maryland, Grizell was united in marriage to Alvin Wesley Thompson. Of this union were born three children: Brenda Nathalene Thompson, Alvin Wesley Thompson, Jr. and Pamela Joette Thompson.

Grizell’s husband, Alvin, Sr., preceded her in death on April 21, 1955.

She later married James E. Parsons. Of this union were born three children: Oliver Nathaniel Parsons, Maria Grizell Parsons and Mary Adele Parsons.

Grizell raised six children on her own after a divorce from Mr. Parsons in 1962. She filled capably the roles of both mother and father while working full-time. She was loving and nurturing, and when needed, she provided a firm hand. Grizell taught her children the importance of family, and she showed by her example that regardless of how little you feel you have it is good to help others less fortunate than you. While she was not able to give her children everything they wanted, she gave them all they needed.

Mrs. Parsons worked for Glenn L. Martin and then for Western Electric until shortly before the birth of her first child. Grizell stayed home with her children until 1962, when she went to work for Rosewood State Hospital. In 1965, she began working for the Department of Defense at Fort Holabird and later at Fort Meade, Maryland, where she served as a civilian employee of the United States Army Intelligence Command. She retired from that position in November 1988, having received numerous commendations and having never disclosed to even her family the nature of the confidential matters on which she worked.

Grizell was a faithful and long-time member of Union Baptist Church, in Baltimore. She was a member of the Deaconess Board, and in 1997 she was chosen as Deaconess of the Year. She was also a member of the Gertrude Neal Circle and was active in the life of her church home in many other ways.

During the 1990's, Grizell was very active in the Pinehurst Neighborhood Association and worked tirelessly to improve her community and help make Baltimore a better place to live. She received numerous recognitions of her efforts , including in April 1994 a resolution passed by the Maryland House of Delegates "in recognition of your spiritual leadership and the sustaining of the Black Church as the major anchor of the African-American Community."

Grizell was also very active in the Order of Eastern Star. She served this organization in various capacities, including Secretary, Treasurer, Warder, Worthy Matron and District Deputy Director.

Grizell was an avid reader, a trait she encouraged in her children. She sacrificed to purchase a set of World Book Encyclopedias and regularly sent her children to the public library to borrow books. Grizell especially enjoyed reading religious material.

She is survived by two sons, Alvin W. Thompson and Oliver N. Parsons; two daughters, Brenda N. Hanks and Maria Grizell Parsons; and six grandchildren, Diamond C. Blount, Ryan C. Downer, Andrew M. Thompson, Allen R. Nash, Jr., Catherine Joette Thompson Maclean and Julia A. Thompson.

She is also survived by two sons-in law, Allen R. Nash, Sr. and Tommie T. Hanks; two daughters-in-law, Lesley Morgan Thompson and Felis A. Parsons; one brother-in–law and five sisters-in-law, and numerous nephews and nieces.

Grizell was preceded in death by her daughters Pamela Joette (née Thompson) Downer (l982) and Mary Adele (née Parsons) Nash (1992) and by her son-in-law Terry O. Downer (2013). She was also predeceased by her brother, Phillip J. Haynie, and her sisters, Corrine (née Haynie) Hooper Kelly, Maxine (née Haynie) Guilford, and Adele (née Haynie) Brooks.

The family will receive friends in the LEMMON FUNERAL HOME OF DULANEY VALLEY INC., 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Road) Timonium, MD 21093 on Friday, 3-6pm and in the Union Baptist Church, 1219 Druid Hill Ave., Baltimore, MD 21217 on Saturday, September 14, 10-10:30am at which time funeral services will begin. Interment Loudon Park Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be directed, in memory of Grizell T. Parsons, to Union Baptist Church, for The Gertrude Neal Circle (in support of the Head Start program). A guest book is available at www.lemmonfuneralhome.com