Velma Ruth Harrison Parker

She was a sweet, special lady. Her love and devotion to family, friends, and church were often expressed through her great southern cooking, gifts of fine needlework, and flowers from her garden.

She was born November 20, 1910 on a farm in the Oak Grove Community of Troup County, Georgia to William Notley Harrison and Lexa Carter Harrison, She was the seventh of thirteen siblings: William, Hiram, Harvey, Jarrel Lee, Gertrude Harrison, Lola Lanier, Ibera Bass, T. W. Harrison, Raymond (infant), Ira Harrison, Agnes Williams, and Virginia Bonner. Her great-grandparents George Washington & Matilda Farrow Carter settled in Troup County in 1838.

She grew up on farms in the Oak Grove and Pleasant Grove communities with kerosene lanterns, outhouse, water well, no electricity or refrigeration or indoor plumbing, milk kept cool in the well, clothes washed in black pots and on battling boards at the spring, mule-drawn wagons, buggies, and surreys, homemade dresses, high-top button shoes, shopped at Mansours’ Racket Shop, broke her arm cranking her A-Model Ford car. Over her 105 years she watched many changes in the world, including TV of man landing on the moon.

She joined Pleasant Grove Methodist Church in 1920, a member for 95 years. She assisted her papa delivering milk from his dairy, walked to the private three-room Pleasant Grove School, and graduated from Rosemont High School in 1930. She worked at McLellans ‘dime store’ in LaGrange to earn $1.25 a day to buy her $7 class ring.

In the 1930s she worked at Callaway’s Valway Mill where she met her future husband, Robert Brewell Parker, Sr. the seventh of twelve children of Joseph Oscar and Viola Wilson Parker of Randolph County, Alabama. Brewell and Velma married April 15, 1938 in LaGrange, both age 27. After becoming a mother of three children, she was a homemaker. In the 1960s she worked as cloth inspector at West Point Pepperell Dunson Mill.

She was active in her church, community club, and homemakers club. In the 1970s she helped organize the Pleasant Grove Quilters, taught many to quilt, and served as club president. She was a great cook, known for her yeast rolls, fried pies, divinity, and peanut brittle candies; and for her hand-embroidered pillowcases and aprons. She and Brewell had a loving marriage of 44 years. He preceded her in death in May 1982.

She was on a horse at age 91. With health failing from dementia, she became a resident of Florence Hand Home in 2003. In 2010 her 100th birthday was celebrated by one hundred people at her church.

She is survived by her three children and their spouses: Roberts B. Parker, Jr. and wife Barbara Simmons Parker of LaGrange, G. Wayne Parker and wife Faye Hamby Parker of Tampa, FL, and Glenda Parker Butler and husband Kenneth Butler of West Point; six grandchildren and their spouses, Bob Parker and fiancée Kristy Barnes of Pine Mountain, Mark Parker and wife Jill of LaGrange, Christopher G. Parker and wife Trish of Tampa, FL, Kimberly Parker Wilson of Tampa, FL, Laura Butler Macurak and husband Scott of Roswell, GA, and Melissa Butler Wills of Hendersonville, N.C.; great-grandchildren, Caroline Parker of Fayetteville, GA, Brew Parker, Gracie Parker, Olivia Parker, Bailey Parker, Harley Parker, Lexi Parker, and Tuff Parker, all of LaGrange, GA, Kenley and Emilie Macurak of Acworth, GA, Ashleigh Parker from Gastonia, N.C., Eric Parker, Alyssa Parker, and Alex Parker, and Jesse Wilson all of Tampa, FL; She is also survived by sisters Agnes Williams and Virginia Bonner of LaGrange, GA; and nieces, nephews, and cousins. Velma was preceded in death by a great grandson, John Matthew Parker. She was like family to staff at Florence Hand Home.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church with Reverend Larry Bird and Reverend Chad Hill officiating. Burial will follow in Shadowlawn Cemetery. The gathering of family and friends will be on Tuesday from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.

Flowers will be accepted or contributions may be made to Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, 170 Pleasant Grove Church Road, LaGrange, GA 30241 in memory of Mrs. Velma Ruth Harrison Parker.

Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.

Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-8636