Funeral services for Margaret Smith Parkerson, 87, of Greenville will be at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, October 9, 2014 at Calvary Baptist Church. Burial will be in Greenfiled Cemetery, Glen Allan under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville.
She left this world October 7, 2014 while in Delta Regional Medical Center after a short illness. She died peacefully surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She was born in Dekalb, MS to Henry Bennett and Rosie Ella Lang Smith on November 10, 1926. Mrs. Parkerson was the oldest daughter in a family of 11 children and served as a second mother to her younger siblings most of their lives.
Margaret married Johnnie Parkerson on March 13, 1947, and together they celebrated their 67th anniversary this past March. After 30 plus years, she retired from Atkins Saw/Nicholson File in December 1991. Throughout her careers both at Nicholson File and raising her five children, Margaret always enjoyed baking and was renowned locally and beyond for her desserts, including cakes, candies, cookies and pies. Each loved one had their favorite dessert and she enjoyed baking for her family and friends, as well as many ailing or sick friends. She took chicken and dumplings, sweets or cornbread to shut-ins on a regular basis, even when she was the shut-in. She loved serving others.
Margaret loved her God. She raised her children attending Second Baptist Church in Greenville. There were no excuses for missing church, and she made sure her family knew the Word of God. She was a member of the Choir, as well as numerous committees over the years. At the time of her death, she was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville. In her nightly prayers, she prayed for each and every loved one, calling them by name
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In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved first born, Bobby Ray Parkerson, and brothers, Paul Smith, H.L. Smith, Russell Smith and Grady Smith.
She is survived by her husband Johnnie Parkerson of Greenville, her children, Tommy Parkerson (Anita) of Texarkana, TX, B.J. (Betty Jo) Nichols (Roy), of Glen Allan, MS, Teresa Key of Greenville, MS and Joey Parkerson (Apryl) of Larkspur, CO; sisters, Mrytle Holley Watkins (Jack) and Mrytis Woods (Luther), both of Greenville, Maudie Cooper (Marvin) of Rolling Fork, MS and Mary Ella McGriff (Johnny) of Bovina, MS; brothers Edward (Red) Smith (Loretta) of Morehead, KY, and Dick Smith (Nancy) of Greenville.
Her most cherished loves called her MawMaw. They include grandchildren, Bobby, Chrissy, Dallas, Skipper, Jeff, Danny, Michael, Mandy, Jason, Erica, Elizabeth, Elaine, Sean, Tyler, Tara, J.T., Tori, and Abby. Margaret believed each generation was sweeter than the one before. She leaves 36 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.
Left to cherish her memory are also nieces and nephews too numerous to count, as well as so many special friends, including the “two Polly’s”, Polly Williams and Polly Pritchett, who were sisters in her heart.
The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation, P. O. Box 2222, Little Rock, AR 72203-9984, or online at giving.archildrens.org or the charity of the donors choice.