Ruby Lawrence

Ruby Jane Slaydon Parnell Lawrence, 87, of East Center Street, died Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, at Brookstone Retirement Center, Alzheimer Unit after an extended illness. A funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Reeds Baptist Church by Pastor Dave Williams and the Rev. Robin Fitzgerald of Ebenzer United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Davidson Funeral Home. Mrs. Lawrence was born Oct. 2, 1925, in Surry County to William Henry Slaydon and Cinnie Myrtle Creed Slaydon. She was a member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church. She was a seamstress at Teenie's Drapery for many years. She volunteered many years at Lexington Memorial Hospital. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Elmo Lee Parnell, as well as her second husband, Kenneth Lawrence; three sons, Findale Parnell, Varner Parnell and Bradley Parnell; one brother, William Slaydon; and one sister, Ethel Tysinger. Surviving are one son, Dickie Parnell and wife Kim of Spencer; one daughter, Twyla Sechrest and husband Kirby of Lincolnton; four sisters, Lola Smith and husband Weldon of Lexington, Kathleen Westmoreland and husband Chester of Thomasville, Allene Hartman and husband Bill of Lexington and Birdie Blankenship of Winston-Salem; one daughter-in-law, Amy Parnell; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Memorials made be made to St. Jude's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Department 300, Memphis TN 38148-0552.