Lois Parker

Lois Travisteen Renfroe Parker, joined her husband of 62 years, William Howard Parker, in death on April 25, 2018, surrounded by her family.  She is survived by her 3 children: daughter, Kay Parker (Toby) Gatewood, of Pelahatchie, MS; son, Steve Parker of Clinton, MS; and daughter, Amy Parker Jones of Colorado Springs, CO; and a daughter-in-law Claudia Parker of Canton, MS.  She is also survived by 4 grandchildren: Sherry Gatewood (Eric) Patton of Memphis, TN; Gabriel (Leighann) Sanchez’ of Andover, KS; Michael (Brenda) Sanchez’ of Lawrenceville, GA; and James (Tara) Parker of Canton, MS.  She has 10 great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by one sister, Malinda Renfroe McCullough (Jim) of Clinton, MS and a host of nieces and nephews around the country.

Lois was born November 21, 1924, the third of three children, born to Foster A. and Ruby Nelson Renfroe.  She was a child of the Great Depression, which shaped her character and personality, and she was raised in the Delta most of her life.  She graduated from Belzoni High School, where she was drum majorette for the high school band.  Lois, also known as Trav or Travisteen in earlier years, graduated from Southern MS College, Hattiesburg (which later became the University of Southern MS) where she majored in home economic sciences and minored in voice.  It was there that she met the love of her life, Howard Parker, when he returned from the Navy after WWII.  They married December 26, 1947, following their college graduation.  Being the very first of her family to graduate college, she was also privileged to study voice in Chicago one summer as part of her graduate studies.  She sang in opera and other musical productions while in Chicago.  In later life, as a member of the Brandon First United Methodist Church, she sang soprano in the chancel choir and provided special music solos for many years.  She gave all three of her children a love and appreciation of music and singing, and made sure that music lessons were given to each of them when they were young.

Following graduation and marriage, she taught Home Economics at the Mt. Olive, MS High School, while husband Howard taught Mathematics.  She was responsible for the purchase of new sewing machines for her department while she was there.  She was able to buy a sewing machine for herself at that time, which she used to make clothes for herself, her 3 children and to decorate the home with draperies and furniture coverings.  She was an excellent seamstress all during her lifetime, and encouraged her 2 daughters to learn to sew and enjoy needlework.  Lois was also an excellent cook, and used her homemaking skills to provide delicious, well-balanced meals for her family.

After she and Howard retired from their waterproofing contractors business, Parker and Associates, the two of them loved to vegetable garden and grow a beautiful yard.  They drove cars together for many years for various car dealerships in the Brandon/Jackson area.  They enjoyed each other’s company on both short and long drives for the dealerships, until Howard became ill in 2008.

She was much loved and appreciated by her family and friends, and will be missed very much by all those she leaves behind.  She was known as Mamama to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  God bless you and keep you, Dear Mama, and thank you for all you were to us.  Glory be to God!

Visitation will be 2pm -4pm Thursday, April 26, 2018, at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon, MS with a funeral service following at 4pm in the chapel of the funeral home.  Interment will be in Brandon Memorial Gardens.  Reverend Mitchell Hedgepeth officiating and Donna Beasley singing.  In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to your favorite charity.