Christopher Allen Parsons

Christopher Allen Parsons, born May 19, 1945 in Baltimore, MD, died October 24, 2014 in Haven Hospice, Orange Park, FL. His Memorial Service will be on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014, 2:00pm at the Rockledge Presbyterian Church, 921 Rockledge Dr. Rockledge FL. 321-636-0811. Arrangements are being made through Beckman-Williamson Funeral Homes and Crematory, 5400 Village Drive, Viera, FL 32955, 321.635.1973, www.beckman-williamson.com Interment of Ashes with Military Honors will be at the Arlington National Cemetery Columbarium in the spring. Chris is survived by his wife of 42 years, Laura Aho Parsons, of Satellite Beach, FL, sons: Spencer Whitlow Parsons, Chicago IL, Christopher Neilson Parsons and his partner, Hannah Spence, Boston MA, Erik Edward Parsons and his wife, Katherine Beach Parsons and their son, Edward Xavier Parsons, Chicago, IL, sister, Constance Jacoby, Kansas City, Missouri, and brother, Charles Parsons, Las Vegas NV. He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward H. Parsons and Lucy S. Parsons and by sister, Dawn Hamilton. The status of sister, Linda, is unknown at this time. Chris was a theatre professional, teacher and coach: acting, directing, managing and producing for companies based in NYC, Maryland, Kentucky, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, North Carolina, New Mexico and Florida. His favorite show was ""Godspell""a�""9 productions! Local audiences may remember his work with the Melbourne Civic Theatre. SW Florida audiences enjoyed his work at the Naples Dinner Theatre. He was a popular professor at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC. He was Co-owner and Executive Producer for Diners' Playhouse in Lexington, KY. Very active in the Outdoor Drama movement, Chris originated the role of Ben Campbell in Paul Green's Trumpet in the Land in New Philadelphia, OH. He directed the premier productions Black River Traders and Dreams and Drill Bits by Mark R. Sumner for Farmington, NM. Chris began his theatre education with the famed Children's Theatre Association of Baltimore, MD, earned his BFA in Acting and Directing at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, studied with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio, NYC, and did his MFA in Theatre Performance at University of Florida, Gainesville. Wherever he lived, Chris was active in his local faith community. He served as Deacon and Elder, and, with his wife, worked as the first Consultants in Christian Education at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church in Naples, FL. There, he founded Boy Scouts of America Troop 274. (All 3 sons achieved their Eagle awards.) He was also a founding member of the Fools for Christ Clown Ministry Team. He loved representing Christian churches in Rotary Club International in North Naples. Here in the Space Coast area, Chris was active in ministry at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Satellite Beach, Church at Viera, Rockledge Presbyterian Church, and sat at the Table of Paul for Via de Cristo, Indian River Class #52. In November 2013, he was finally, publicly presented, by the Melbourne Vet Center, with his Bronze Star award, for exemplary service in the First Infantry Division of the US Army in Vietnam, 1968-69. In August 2014, he met, in Chicago, with curators for the Museum of the US Army First Infantry Division to record his oral history and tell the stories behind some of the photographs he took as a combat photographer with the ""Big Red One."" Memorial Gifts in Chris Parsons' name may be offered to: Christopher A. Parsons Memorial Bible Fund: Rockledge Presbyterian Church, 921 Rockledge Dr. Rockledge FL 32955, 321-636-0811, www.RockledgePres.org The Myositis Association Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) Research or Keep In Touch (KIT) support groups: 1737 King Street, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22314, 800-821-7356, [email protected] Haven Hospice Orange Park - Custead Care Center, 745 Blanding Blvd. Orange Park, FL 32065 (904)213-2639, www.havenhospice.org/contact-options.aspx