Ernestine Parker

Benson:  Ernestine Johnson Parker died peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield.  Graveside funeral services will be 2:00PM Tuesday at Benson City Cemetery.  Rev. Al Hocutt will officiate. Mrs. Parker was born in Benson, North Carolina on February 8, 1922 to Charles and Mary Esther Smith Johnson.  She was a graduate of Benson High School and attended Duke University.  She married David Henry Parker in 1942 while he was an active member of the Army Air Corp.  She was life-long, devoted member of the Benson United Methodist Church. She led a life of happiness and grace, focused on family, friends and church activities.  After raising her family, she spent many years in service to the public library in Benson where she made numerous friends, many of whom were young and grew to appreciate the pleasures of reading through her kind encouragement. She is survived by her four children, Van Parker and wife, Phyllis, of Fayetteville, Charles Parker of Salt Lake City, Utah, Mary Sue "Peaches" Miller of Benson, and Smith Parker and wife, Beth, of Benson; by six grandchildren, Susan Fry, Chuck Parker, Andy Parker, Millie Archer, Sam Parker, and Matt Parker; and by six great grandchildren, Jackson Parker, Preston Parker, Ava Parker, Parker Fry, Abigail Parker, and Ella Archer.  Among her much loved nieces and nephews is her devoted niece, Suzanne Benton Cook.  She was preceded in death by her husband and by her four beloved sisters, Maude Duckett, Mable Medlin, Leta Gold Benton, and Muriel Nicholls.  The family will receive friends at Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Benson from 6:00PM to 8:00PM Monday. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Benson United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 72, Benson, NC  27504 or to the Mary Duncan Library, 100 West Main Street, Benson, NC 27504   "The life you live is the lesson you teach."