Obituary of Evangeline Naomi Fulghum Parnell

Evangeline “Vangie” Naomi Fulghum Parnell, of Christiana, passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by family, on Dec. 26, 2024. She was 95. She was born April 5, 1929, in Rosiclare, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mattie Ethyl Potts Fulghum and John Raleigh Fulghum; her adoring husband of 64 years, R. D. Parnell; sisters Sybel Gertrude Fulghum Stone and Ruby Maxine Fulghum St. Cyr; and brothers Weldon Franklin Fulghum and James Ralph Fulghum. Survivors include her sister, Patricia Ann Fulghum Lewis of Knoxville; daughters Bonnie Marie Parnell Riechert (Art) of Murfreesboro and Pamela Lynn Parnell Chisholm (Bobby) of Garland, Texas; son Jeffrey Mark Parnell of Murfreesboro; daughters-of-the heart Deborah Sue Conkle Parnell of Murfreesboro and Karen Lynne Reynolds Warthen of Hendersonville, North Carolina; grandchildren David William Chisholm of Austin, Texas; Jessica Marie Chisholm Holland of Memphis; Jacob Mark Parnell Reathford of McMinnville, and Rachel “Cassi” Sue Parnell of Murfreesboro; great-granddaughters Frances Marlene Chisholm and Adah Nyx Chisholm; and a number of devoted nieces and nephews. Remembered as a gentle and quiet spirit, Mrs. Parnell was an active member of the Crescent Church of Christ in Murfreesboro. For some years she and her late husband also were involved in the Raus Church of Christ near Tullahoma, where Mr. Parnell preached half time. She and her husband moved to Middle Tennessee in 1994 from Chelsea, Michigan, when he retired from full-time employment as a preacher. The Parnells lived a number of places for his work with the church: Troy, Memphis, and Chattanooga, Tennessee; Three Rivers and Chelsea, Michigan; Plymouth, Indiana; Eufaula and Maud, Alabama; Bogalusa, Louisiana; Eupora, Mississippi; Greeneville, South Carolina; and Rosiclare, Illinois. A junior high school spelling bee champion, Mrs. Parnell was noted in her high school yearbook for excelling scholastically, for working as a theater cashier and switchboard operator, and for wearing yellow flowers in her hair. She was a 1946 graduate of Rosiclare Community High School and a 1948 graduate of Freed-Hardeman College (now University). She and her husband married in 1947 while students at Freed-Hardeman. After their graduation, they moved to Nashville where her husband attended David Lipscomb College (now university) and she worked in the office of the president. Mrs. Parnell also held office management positions at a number of places over the years: Southern Greeting Card, Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, Business Men’s Assurance Co. of America, Bigelow-Sandford Carpet Co., and Eufaula Cable TV. Although she moved quite a few times in her adult life, she maintained relationships from many places through her thoughtful letters and phone calls. She regularly communicated to people their importance and her love. She was a lifelong student of the Bible and taught ladies Bible classes; her favorite scriptures included Romans 8:28 and Ecclesiastes 5:2. She was known for her serving hands and loving heart. A skilled cook, singer, and seamstress, she enjoyed beautiful sunsets, birds, flowers, counted cross stitch, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, and Jumbles. By her request, burial will be in a private family service. She will be laid to rest beside her husband at the Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. Later, a gathering will be scheduled for those who knew and loved her to share memories and to honor her life. Donations in her memory may be made to the Crescent Church of Christ Building Fund, 4915 Barfield Crescent Road, Murfreesboro, TN 37128. https://app.easytithe.com/app/giving/crescent