Joseph Edward Parson

On Sunday December 1, 2024, Joseph Edward Parson (Joe) entered eternal rest in Newport News, Virginia. Joseph was born on May 26, 1951, in Surry, Virginia to the late Lawrence Parson, Sr. and the late Margaret Swan Parson. He was the oldest of six children. He was baptized at Cypress Baptist Church at an early age. 

Joseph graduated from L.P. Jackson High School, class of 1972 and he was a part of the 1969-70 State basketball team. He played baseball with the Surry Q’s and Dendron Redsox. After graduation, he worked at Brown and Williams Tobacco Company. In 1975, he joined the United States Army where he served ten years, attending basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He spent most of those ten years in Germany. 

After exiting the military, he worked on the German economy. Joe married the love of his life the late Doris Reh Parson, on September 7, 1989. When he returned to the states, Joe sold life insurance, annuities, and long-term health as an insurance agent. He was licensed in Texas, Louisiana, and Virginia. Once again, he and Doris returned to Germany and he worked for The Department of Defense; he relocated back to Fort Polk, Louisiana, where he furthered his education receiving a B.S. in Business from the University of Phoenix. He and his wife, Doris, lived in Louisiana until her passing in 2016 after twenty-five years of marriage. 

Joe was preceded in death by his parents Lawrence Sr. & Margaret Parson, brother Lawrence (Sonny) Parson, Jr., nephew Jaquan M. Parson, brother-in-law Nathan Brown, and great-niece Kaelyn Parson. 

On Thursday, December 5, 2024, Viewing will take place from 3-6pm at Shivers Funeral Chapel. At 11am on Friday, December 6, 2024, a Celebration of Life with military honors will also be held at Shivers Funeral Chapel. Please keep the Parson family in your thoughts and prayers.