Etta Mae Payne Parsons - Taylorsville Times, The (Jan/5/2006)

Etta Mae Payne Parsons, age 75, of Mountain City, Tenn., died 
Saturday, December 31, 2005, at Johnson City Medical Center 
following a brief illness.
She was born in Johnson County, Tenn., January 3, 1930, one of 
sixteen children of the late William Isaac Payne and Cora Dyson 
Payne. She moved to Pennsylvania in 1945 with her parents. She met 
her husband, Roderick Parsons, and they were married in Elkton, Md., 
February 15, 1947. They settled in New London, Penn., and owned and 
operated the Pennsylvania House Restaurant in Kennett Square. In the 
summer of 1976, they followed their dream and returned to their 
roots in Mountain City, Tenn. They owned and operated Rod’s Deli, 
located in Mountain City. After closing the Deli, she went to work 
at the Mountain City Care Center as a dietary cook until her 
retirement in April 1999. Mrs. Parsons was a member of Mountain City 
Presbyterian Church. She was an avid gardener, and before her ill 
health, she looked forward to going to the Senior Center to be with 
her many friends.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, 
Roderick Parsons, March 2, 1992; three brothers, Walter “Bud” Payne, 
Samuel Payne, and Rod Payne; three sisters, Dorothy P. White, Bertha 
P. Walker, and Gertrude P. Ellis; three grandchildren, Jennifer 
McPherson, Anthony McPherson, and Kaden Buckheit.
Survivors include four sons, Clifford Parsons of Mountain City, Tenn., 
Roger Parsons and wife Shirley of Mountain City, Tenn., James Parsons 
of Pinehurst, N.C., and Daniel Parsons and wife Kimberly of Pinehurst, 
N.C.; three daughters, Jane P. Warren and husband Jeff of Taylorsville, 
Norma P. McPherson and husband John of Seaford, Delaware, Mary Ann P. 
McDermott and husband Don of Parksburg, Penn.; sisters, Magdalene P. 
Anthony and husband Ed of North East, Md., Geraldine P. Swift and Mary 
P. Marden, both of Elkton, Md., Barbara P. Beacher of Newark, Delaware, 
Lacie P. Cress of Mountain City, Tenn., and Essie P. Goode and Myrtle P. 
Rodriquez, both of Beckley, West Va.; two brothers, William “Billy” 
Payne of Nottingham, Penn., and Ralph Payne of Beckley, West Va.; 
nineteen grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren; and numerous 
nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, January 4, 2006, at 2:00 
p.m. at Mountain City Presbyterian Church with Rev. Warren Stewart 
officiating. Music was under the direction of Sherry Tester. Burial 
followed in the Reece Memorial Cemetery.
Pallbearers included Mrs. Parsons’ grandsons, Glenn Parsons, Donald 
Cornette, Roderick Cornette, John McPherson, Jr., Joseph McDermott, 
Nathaniel McDermott, and Bradley Parsons. Honorary pallbearers 
included Mrs. Parsons’ nephews.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Society, 208 Sunset Drive, 
Suite 521, Johnson City, TN 37604 or the the American Cancer Society, 
508 Princeton Road, Suite 102, Johnson City, TN 37601.
Henson Funeral Home of Mountain City, Tenn., was in charge of arrangements.