Ellen Burris Thomas Mrs. Parker

WADESBORO - Mrs. Ellen Burris Thomas Parker, 89, died Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at Stanly Manor Nursing Home in Albemarle. Funeral services will be 2:00pm Friday, May 29, 2015 at First Baptist Church, Wadesboro with Dr. Robert L. Hunter, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Stanfield, NC at 3:45pm. The family will greet friends beginning at 1:00pm in the church parlor prior to the service on Friday. Ellen was born June 26, 1925 in Stanly County, NC a daughter of the late Shuford B. Burris and Annie Hill Burris. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Robert Brady Thomas and she later married David C. Parker of Wadesboro. She graduated from Stanfield High School in 1942 and Appalachian State Teachers College in 1946 and began her teaching career at Efird School in Albemarle. Following her marriage to Brady Thomas in 1947, she taught at Burnsville in Mitchell County, NC and following their move to Anson County in 1948, she then taught at Peachland, Central, J.R. Faison, and Wadesboro Middle Schools, as well as, Southview Academy prior to retiring following a 34 year teaching career. She was often greeted by former students and this brought her much joy to know they remembered her. Ellen was a member of First Baptist Church, Wadesboro for 65 years, where she was a member of the Fidelis Sunday School Class, Missions Showing Love Circle and enjoyed playing the piano for many Sunday School Classes each Sunday. She enjoyed reading, gardening, growing flowers, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Down to Earth Garden Club and both Talley Ho and Teachers Bridge Clubs. Surviving are her daughter, Pam T. Holbrook and husband, Gus of Albemarle; her granddaughter, Jennifer H. Enzor and husband, Matt of Raleigh; her great-grandchildren, Brayden and Lillian 'Lilly' Enzor both of Raleigh; her sister, Peggy B. Hill and husband, Carl M. 'Buck' of Albemarle; her sister-in-law, Marilyn T. Hartsell of Southern Pines; and her nephews, Kenny Hill and wife, Kelly and Timmy Hill of Albemarle and Tom Hartsell of Jackson Springs and their families. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Music Ministry, P.O. Box 423, Wadesboro, NC 28170 or to Hospice of Stanly and Uwharrie, 960 N. First St., Albemarle, NC 28001 or to Friends of Hampton B. Allen Library, N. Greene St., Wadesboro, NC 28170. The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.leavittfuneralhomewadesboro.com