Eugenia (Jean) Parsons - In 1886 Daniel Lee Palmer, whose family first arrived in America in 1622 on the good ship Tyger, posted a note on the door of his home in Pittsboro, Mississippi saying he was going to Texas. Loading his family on a wagon they wound their way to Normangee, Texas. Walking beside the wagon was Gaston Palmer, the father of Eugenia Palmer. Gaston Palmer married Willie Edna Dilleshaw and raised a family of seven girls, one of whom died in infancy. Eugenia (Jean) Palmer Parsons was the youngest of the girls, born March 1, 1917. Raised in Normangee she goes to Austin to attend the University of Texas and be with her father, Gaston, a long termed State Representative from Leon and Madison Counties. Jean meets and marries a University of Texas boxer and tennis player named James N. Parsons II. On August 23, 1942 their son James N. Parsons III was born in Austin. The war takes James to the Pacific and Jean returns to Normangee with her son in tow. After the war the family moves to Houston and their daughter Jerre Parsons was born on August 29, 1946. The family stayed in Houston. Jean began a career as a professional fund-raiser for non-profits including the Houston Fat Stock Show, the Institute of Religion, the United Way and the Pin Oaks Charity Horse Show, from which she retired and moved to Palestine in 1981. In Palestine, she continued her social and community activities ultimately being named Citizen of the Year of Palestine and honored by Anderson County for her efforts in organizing as Chairperson of the Anderson County Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1986. Jean was an avid bridge player, a staunch friend and wonderful grandmother to her grandsons D.W. Williams and Brick Parsons. A life-long Methodist and Democrat, she was active in both. She was named Democrat of the Year in Anderson County and was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Palestine. After a long and fruitful life Jean passed away on Jan. 5, 2009 two months shy of her 92 birthday. Jean is survived by her son, James N. (Jim) Parsons III; daughter-in-law, Karen Parsons; daughter, Jerre P. Williams; son-in-law, Dennis Williams; grandchildren, D.W. Williams, and Brick Palmer Parsons and his wife Shelly; great grand children, McKenzie Grace Parsons, and Addison Anne Parsons; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends. The family will receive friends at the home of Jim and Karen Parsons, 517 East Hodges, Palestine from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, January 8, 2009. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, January 9 at the First United Methodist Church of Palestine, with the Reverend Bruce Hay and the Reverend Scott Dornbush presiding. Interment will follow at the Hopewell Cemetery, Normangee, Texas. Pallbearers will be Frank Closs, Gaston Detweiler, Jack Selden, Roy Stark, Allen Richard Taylor, and David Lee Taylor. Arrangements are under the direction of Bailey and Foster Funeral Home, Palestine.
Published in the Herald-Press from 1/7/2009 - 1/9/2009