LINDA PARSLEY MCVEAN
1948-2018
Linda Parsley McVean passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 28 in Houston, Texas where her devoted family cared for her. Linda was a loving daughter, sister and aunt, friend, and a beloved member and leader at Second Presbyterian Church, Memphis and a lifelong Christian elementary school educator and administrator.
She was born in Houston in 1948 to Sarah and Walter Parsley. She graduated from Lamar High School. She earned bachelor’s and masters’ degrees from Southern Methodist University and University of Memphis respectively. Her dedication to the education of children led her into a lifelong profession of teaching and administration. She began her career in her home state of Texas in Alief Independent School District. Marriage took her to Memphis, Tennessee where she faithfully served Christ Methodist Day School (CMDS) as a teacher and an assistant head of school for almost 40 years. In that capacity she served on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as well as the Southern Association of Independent Schools Accreditation Peer Review Teams. Her competency led to serving as Team Chair of five accreditation teams. After retiring from CMDS, she served two years in administration at the inner-city New Hope Christian Academy in Memphis. After retirement, she experienced great joy in tutoring elementary students at Berclair Elementary School and volunteering at Cornerstone Preparatory School.
Linda is survived by her mother, Sarah Bertron Parsley of Houston, her siblings, Mary Parsley Mustard (Eric) and Ben Holder Parsley; her nephews, Graham Williams (Ericka), Malcolm Williams (Erin); Andrew (Georgia Kate), Michael Mustard, David Mustard, and Denis Mustard; her niece Kate Williams Ward (Tillman) and her many great-nephews and nieces Haley, Lyndsie, Hayden, Reese, Laurel, Sloane, Tillman, Eloise, Charlotte, Grady, Boe, and Charlie. She was preceded in death by her beloved father, Walter Linton Parsley and older sister Ann Parsley Harper.
Linda gave herself sacrificially to her family, friends and profession, but all was born out of the ultimate priority of her relationship with her Triune God. Although her entire life was testimony to the grace she had been shown through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, her Lord, it was particularly in her dying that the steadfastness of her faith was demonstrated. She was a faithful member of Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis where she served as a deacon and a Bible teacher. She was also on the boards of the Christian Psychological Center and NEXUS Leadership. She gave herself joyfully and without reserve to these endeavors and to the many friends to whom she was devoted. Everywhere she went in Memphis, someone was there who knew her, loved her and admired her. She was always looking out to the interests of others in kindness and encouragement.
The family requests that friends wishing to make contributions to her memory do so to Second Presbyterian Church World Missions (www.2pc.org) or M.D. Anderson designated for Pancreatic Cancer Research (http://www.mdanderson. org).
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 5 at 3:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Second Presbyterian Church (4055 Poplar Avenue, Memphis TN 38111) with a reception to follow.