Norma Belle Pender Parker

Norma Pender Parker, 89, surrounded by family and loved ones, died peacefully at Morehead Memorial Hospital on Monday, November 2, 2015 following a brief battle with pneumonia.

Her funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, November 5 at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 538 Henry Street, Eden, NC.

Mrs. Parker was born February 1, 1926 in Spray, NC, the fifth of eight children born to Charles Marshall and Willie Duncan Pender. She would become the first new member of Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Spray having been the first child to be christened in the newly built sanctuary. During her years at Saint Luke's, she sang in the adult choir and was a member of the Florence Nightingale Class. Much later, after moving to the west side of Leaksville, she transferred her family's membership to the Church of the Epiphany where she remained a member until her death. At Epiphany she sang in the adult choir, taught Sunday School and was a member of the Episcopal Church Women. She also belonged to the Ladies Benevolent Sewing Society until it's disbandment.

A 1943 graduate of Leaksville High School, she remained a point of contact for alumni for many years. In 1945, she graduated from Pfeiffer College (now Pfeiffer University) in Misenheimer, NC with a degree in Liberal Arts. At Pfeiffer, Norma distinguished herself in two ways: She sang in the renowned Pfeiffer College Choir and hosted with her parents, two foreign exchange students from the orient, at college and at home in Spray. This was a new program, at the college established under the auspices of Rotary International. Mrs. Parker was retired from Morehead Memorial Hospital and did private companion work until she was 80 years old.

In addition to her church work, Norma was a Red Cross volunteer, a Linus Blanket Project volunteer, and a Meals on Wheels volunteer. She loved the beach and spent as much time there as possible and nurtured her lifelong hobby of gathering and collecting shells.

Mrs. Parker is survived by a son, Mark Parker of the home; three daughters, Jane Stewart Parker of Little River, SC, Penn Parker of Asheville, Ginger Salmons and husband, Dwayne, of Bachelor's Hall, VA and a beloved granddaughter, Isabelle, also of Virginia. Her sister, Azile Lemons resides in Wilmington, NC. Among the survivors are several nieces and nephews, two of whom were particularly special to Mrs. Parker: Marsha Parker Brumfield of Loris, SC and Charles (Chuck) Fair of Eden.

She was preceded in death by her beloved "Granny Haizlip"; parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. Marshall Pender; husband, Paul (Dick) Parker; brother, Philip Pender; sisters, Marie Willard, Eliza Jennings, Rebecca Carter, Alma Fair and Constance Buck; sisters-in-law, Eljeva Harrell Pender and Ida Ruth Hicks Parker; and lifelong friends, Lucille Gilley Williams and Dorothy Reid McBride.

The family will receive friends Wednesday evening, 6:30 - 8:30PM at Fair Funeral Home and other times at the residence, 1633 NC Hwy 135 in Eden.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 538 Henry Street, Eden, NC 27288 or to the Rockingham County Meals On Wheels Program, PO Box 1915, Reidsville, NC 27323 or to Saint Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com