J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Homes

Parr, Mabel W.

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Mabel Whitby Parr, 91, of Hopewell, died Wednesday, February 09, 2005 in John Randolph Medical Center. She was born in Brunswick County, Virginia and was a former Granby Street resident. Mrs. Parr was a salesperson at Rucker � Rosenstock Department Store and was a member of Woodlawn Presbyterian Church.
She was the daughter of the late William R. and Christine Hogarth Whitby.
Surviving are two sons, Donald W. Parr and wife, Paige, of Hopewell, Kenneth W. Parr and wife Ann, of Prince George, five grandchildren Donald W. Parr, Jr. and wife Diane, Michael K. Parr and wife, Jennifer, Kevin W. Parr and wife, Michelle, Stephanie A. Hagee and husband Keith and Ty F. Parr, three great-grandchildren Sean Parr, Madison Hagee and Ashlyn Hagee, three step grandchildren Brooke Hines, Amanda and Tyler Adair, three sisters Josephine Murphy, and husband James, of Williamsburg, Peggy Bruce of Fredericksburg and Lois Smith and husband Goddard of Hopewell, one brother, William Whitby, Jr. and wife Shirley of Fredericksburg, and many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends Thursday evening, February 10, 2005 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Hopewell Chapel of J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home and Cremation Service. A funeral service will be Friday, February 11, 2005 at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Ed Bellis, Pastor of Woodlawn Presbyterian Church, officiating. Interment will be in Merchants Hope Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to Woodlawn Presbyterian Church, 1201 Blackstone Avenue, Hopewell, VA 23860 or Hopewell Emergency Crew, P.O..Box 572, Hopewell, VA 23860
Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com

To the Parr Family,

I worked with your Mother at Rucker & Rosenstock in 1975. I was 16 years old at the time and worked in the shoe department. She and Mrs. Houser worked in the baby department. We had the best of times talking each night at work. She was one of the kindest and sweetest people in the store. She was such an encouragement to me as a teen. I loved when she worked, she always shared her lunch or would bring something for me. She was a women of faith and had a true sense of family. I feel so blessed to have worked with such a wonderful lady.
May she rest in peace,
Sherri Smithson

Posted by: Sherri Smithson at March 18, 2005 02:41 PM

Don, Kenny, and family, My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Your mom was a very nice lady. I have very good memories of as well of your dad. They were wonderful people.

Posted by: Larry Merryman at February 12, 2005 06:44 PM

Don, Kenny and families, We send our condolences. Mabel was a fine lady, friend and neighbor. Speaking for Richard they had some fun chats at the backyard fence. I can almost hear them. She is with her beloved Frank now and is home again. Best wishes to all and may God Bless!! Pauline

Posted by: Mr. and Mrs. Richard Anderson at February 12, 2005 09:02 AM

I believe Greg summed it up pretty good about Mr. and Mrs. Parr. We loved them dearly and they were the best neighbors anyone could ever have. The last time I saw Mrs. Parr was in Walmart and she was busy shopping with her friends, but she sure recalled several things she and I had done when I was a child. I will remember her always. She now is with Mr. Parr and the Lord she always loved. God bless the family in this time of sorrow. Deb

Posted by: Debbie at February 12, 2005 08:39 AM

I'll miss Mamaw....me and her were close..she always used to tell me that Grandaddy Frank was proud of my work in the garden...I'll miss them both..and I'll miss the corn..and tomatoes...and the old greenhouse they used to have...and the MANY Thanksgiving Dinners at the old house on Granby...I still have the bible that Mamaw and Grandaddy gave me back in the early 90s...I'll keep it always...may she rest in piece in the house of the Lord.

Posted by: Sean at February 11, 2005 07:38 PM

Don, Paige, Ann and in particular my Wonderful Teenage Pal and forever good Pal Kenny,

In reflecting back on Mabel's life I could only think of all the grand times that she and Frank afforded us when we were young kids. My fond memories of growing up "behind the Parr's" was right out a Norman Rockwell painting. There was the turkey lot, the garden, the mulberry tree, the old shed, the new garage, good food, bonfires with roasted potatoes, baseball/football games and who could forget going through the house on Saturday nights when Mabel and Frank were tuned in to Lawrence Welk. Couldn't stand old Lawrence then but now everytime I surf by those re-runs I find myself watching them. Strange how life goes full circle. Even more amazing they were actually happy to have a bunch of teenagers about the place.

What wonderful people and what a great pair of parents. They were loved and respected by all the neighborhood kids, up and down the alley! I am getting on a bit myself and have seen a lot of the world and the difficult times it can present, but not enough to where I didn't shed several tears over Mabel's passing. She and Frank will always live in my memory.

Thanks for the memories and the good times. God Bless You All!

Greg Anderson
P.S. I am not even going to get started about Frank Parr's cracklin' biscuits before our many fishing trips.

Posted by: Greg Anderson at February 11, 2005 04:02 PM

Kenny, Don, and all,
I was sure sorry to hear about your mom ( I guess she never wanted to be called Aunt, so she was just Mabel to us). Losing your Mom is never easy, and in her case almost surprising - I really was beginning to think she'd outlast all of us. She was a little bit of Mom to all of us.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Doug and family

Posted by: doug at February 11, 2005 03:34 PM

Don, Paige, Kenny, Ann: I saw the notice in the Progress-Index which I scan on-line every day. I think of all of you fondly and often. I especially think of your Mom as neighbor and Sunday School Teacher. It's been a long time since those days of sandlot baseball and football and later church league softball. Those are good times to remember. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.

Calvin & Barbara

Posted by: Calvin Lucy at February 11, 2005 09:41 AM

Kenny,Don, and family,,My thoughts and prayers are with you. I have such wonderful memories of your mom. I remenber how we all use to meet at your mom's and dad's house on Sunday afternoons. We had such fun. Mabel was my sunday school teacher in kindergarden.She was a fine lady. I will always remenber your mom and dad. They were wonderful people. Dennis Bickings

Posted by: Dennis Bickings at February 9, 2005 07:19 PM