Virginia Ann Parkman

Virginia Ann Stapleton Parkman, 75, died Friday, January 20, 2012, at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. Visitation is 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24th at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Jackson and from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Broadmeadow United Methodist Church on Wednesday, January 25th. Services are at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 25th at Broadmeadow United Methodist Church in Jackson with burial in Lakewood Memorial Park.

Ann was born September 1, 1936, in Gainesville, Florida, the daughter of the late Carl and Virginia Stapleton. She attended the University of Florida where she played the French Horn in the marching band and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. Ann taught at Jackson Commercial College from 1968 until 1972. She worked for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and was the director of the Bicentennial Commission in 1975 and 1976. She then worked for the Mississippi Library Commission from 1977 until she retired, serving as personnel director and deputy director.

Ann was an active member of Broadmeadow United Methodist Church where, among other activities, she was an executive officer of the Broadmeadow United Methodist Women. Ann served on the Board of Jackson Friends of the Library. She was also active in the Meadow Rose Garden Club and the Jackson Council of Garden Clubs.

Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Edwin (Ed) Parkman. She is survived by three sons, Lawrence Edwin Parkman of Jackson, Walter Carl Parkman of Jackson, Norman Keith Parkman and his wife Venus of Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, and granddaughters, Shyanna Grace and Laura Antoinette; sister, Nancy Atwood (Fred); brother, Gilbert Stapleton; sister in-law, Lanora Naron Sauls and sister-in-law, Elinor Applewhite Naron.