DATELINE: SPRINGFIELD, VA
Funeral services for Helen Hey Sutphen Parkinson, 94, of Springfield, VA and formerly of Benoit will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 14, 2014 at Benoit Union Church. She died Saturday, June 7, 2014 in Springfield, VA. Burial will be in Greenville Cemetery under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville.
Mrs. Parkinson was born on January 29, 1920 in Clarksdale, MS the daughter of Pauline Fredric Murphree Sutphen and John Schurman Sutphen. She was the wife of John Richard Parkinson who preceded her in death. She lived in Benoit until 2003 and lived in Springfield, VA from 2003-2014. Helen was a loving wife and mother. She was a homemaker, artist, avid seamstress, and enjoyed traveling. She was an active member of the Benoit Presbyterian Church where she served as Ruling Elder and Clerk of Session.
She is survived by 2 daughters, Patricia Parkinson Riley of Springfield, VA and Paula Parkinson Strickland of Osprey, FL; son, John Richard Parkinson of Greenville; 3 sisters, Anne Sutphen Creswell of Milan, TN, Pauline Sutphen Trusty of Austin, TX and Bettye Sutphen Walker of Alexandria, VA; and 6 grandchildren, Emily Parkinson Hughes of Arlington, VA, Robert Patrick Riley of McLean, VA, Richard Oliver Riley of Springfield, VA, Katherine Elizabeth Strickland of Arlington, VA, Sarah Clayton Strickland of Washington, DC and Elizabeth Ivy Parkinson of Greenville, MS.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the church. Donations may be made to Benoit Union Church, the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.