Transcribed Obituaries

Chronological Order

Lonnie Coker, colored, 1825 Thornton avenue, died last night after a short illness. Coker was a World War I veteran. Surviving are his widow, Pearl Coker; three children, Virginia Lee, Lonnie Jr., and Harry; a stepson, David Brannon; his mother, Mrs. Annie Coker, Parsons; two brothers, Randolph Coker of Parsons and Logan Coker of Joplin; and a sister, Mrs. Myrtle Coker, Washington, D.C. Funeral arrangements are incomplete, in charge of the Bowser mortuary. Parsons Sun, Friday Evening December 8, 1933 (page 3, column 8)

Charity Brown, possibly the best known colored citizen in Parsons, died at 7 o'clock last night at her home, 1003 S. 13th street. She was 91 years old. Charity had been in feeble health for some time and had been in a critical condition for the past two months. Funeral services will be held at the Hamilton Chapel on south 12th street at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon, conducted by the Rev. G.H. Rowe of Independence. Burial will be in Oakwood cemetery. Charity Brown is survived by two daughters, Pearl Coker of the home and Mrs. Florence McMillan, Kansas City, and one son, Dennis Brown, Oswego. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Charity was born in Grimes County, Texas where she grew to womanhood and was married to Clarence Brown at Navasota, Tex. She came north in a covered wagon with an exodus of colored people in 1880 and located at Oswego, where she resided until the family moved to Parsons in 1906. She took an unusual interest in community affairs and was an enthusiastic worker among the colored people for the Red Cross and for years had been the first subscribed in raising the annual financial budget.Arrangements are in charge of the Martin Funeral Home. Parsons Sun February 25, 1947 (page 2)

Mrs. Anna Coker, 86 years old, a Negro resident of Joplin 60 years, died at 2:15 o'clock yesterday afternoon in her home, 1920 Furnace avenue. Born in Yellville, Ark., she was a member of Holiness church. Surviving are a son, Logan Coker of Grove, Okla., and four grandchildren. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Steven Parker mortuary. Joplin Globe April 9, 1954

Logan Coker, 55 years old, 1020 Furnace avenue, died at 2:15 o'clock yesterday morning in St. John's hospital where he had been a patient 12 days. Born April 12, 1899, in Yellville, Ark., he had been a resident of Joplin 40 years. He was a retired construction worker and a veteran of World War I. His only survivors are a cousin, Frank Stinnett, 111 1/2 Main street, and a nephew Roy Watkins of Seneca Route 2. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Steve Parker mortuary. Joplin Globe June 30, 1954 (page 6A, column 4)

Funeral services for James Sturgeon, 87, of 525 South Second, will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Ragsdale's Mortuary Chapel with Reverend J.E. Bridges officiating. Burial will be in Booker T. Washington Cemetery. Sturgeon died in a local nursing home Thursday. He was born in Harrison, Arkansas and had lived in Muskogee for the past 58 years. He was a well-known trainer of dogs. Harrison Nunn, a nephew is a survivor. Muskogee (OK) Sunday Phoenix 19 November 1961

Charles Milton Robinson, 52 of 2314 Morgan, died Monday afternoon at his home after an illness of the past two years.He was born July 3, 1910 at Georgetown, Texas. He was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church. Survivors are his wife of the home, two sons, Edward of the home and Marvin of Kansas City, Mo.; five daughters, Mrs. Marcella Johnson , Compton, Calif.; Mrs Charlene Coker , Groton, Conn.; Mrs Bernice Roberts and Mrs. Helen Singleton, Santa Monica, Calif.; and Mrs. Ellen Gibson, Berkeley, Calif; four brothers, James and Melvin of Omaha, Neb.; Emzy of San Diego, Calif.; and Lovis of Ft. Worth, Tex.; two sisters, Mrs. Maltie Gilliam and Mrs. Fisher Evans, both of Kansas City, Mo.; and 11 grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. They will be announced from the Frey Funeral Home. Parsons Sun 20 Nov 1962

Pearl Brown Coker, 86, who resided at 1003 S. 13th in Parsons, dies at 8:40 p.m. Tuesday at the Labette County Medical Center, where she entered on May 31. Born Dec. 13, 1896, in Oswego, to Horace and Charity Brown, she came to Parsons as a small child and had lived here since. She did domestic work in private homes until 1980.She and Lonnie James Coker were married in June of 1917 at Junction City. He preceded her in death Dec. 7, 1933.She was a member of the Hamilton Chapel United Methodist Church of Parsons. She is survived by two sons, Lonnie and Harry Coker, both of Parsons, one daughter, Virginia Stewart of Parsons, 10 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, one niece, Nellie Cummings of Parsons, and several other nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers, one sister and two sons.Funeral services for Pearl B. Coker will be at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, at the Hamilton Chapel United Methodist Church of Parsons with the Rev. Gwenn Perry officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.The family will receive friends at the Burris-Carson-Wall Funeral Home from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Friends may call at the funeral home after 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Parsons Sun Jul 1983

Lonnie James "Red" Coker Jr., 56, died at his home Thursday afternoon at 1003 South 13th Street in Parsons.He was born in Parsons on November 7, 1928, the son of Lonnie J. Coker Sr and Pearl (Brown) Coker, and was a lifelong resident of Parsons. He attended Parsons schools, and was employed first by the former Mercy Hospital here in the housekeeping department, and then at the Labette County Medical Center in the housekeeping department as a linen processor for over twenty years. He became ill in April of 1984 and went on disability last November.He was a member of Pleas Chapel Church of God in Christ, where he was very active, and of hte King of Solomon Masonic Lodge No. 65. Surviving are a brother, Harry Coker and a sister, Mrs. Tom (Virginia) Stewart, both of Parsons. He was preceded in death by his father in 1933; his mother in 1983 and a brother. Parsons Sun Aug 1985

Nellie Roselle Cummings, 85, of 2114 Appleton, died Monday, Feb. 22, 1988, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, where she had been admitted two weeks earlier.She was born Sept. 15, 1902, at Oswego to Dennis and Elvira (Mulkey) Brown. She grew up and attended schools in Oswego. She remained in Oswego until her marriage to W. M. "Murphy" Cummings on Nov. 19, 1926, at which time they moved to Parsons. Mrs. Cummings has lived here since then. He died April 14, 1969. After moving to Parsons, Mrs. Cummings worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant and later at the former Katy Memorial Hospital. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church.Survivors include: a brother, Horace Brown of Denver; two sisters, Augusta Nevins of Mesa Arizona., and Bertha Patterson of Oswego; eight nieces and nephews and 17 great-nieces and great-nephews.Two brothers and a sister preceded her in death.The service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the New Hope Baptist Church with the Rev. C.B. Bailey and David Rogers officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.Friends may call after noon Thursday at the Burris-Carson-Wall Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials to the New Hope Baptist Church or the American Cancer Society. Parsons Sun Feb 1988

Tommy Arthur Stewart, Jr., 84, a lifelong Parsons resident, died at 2:20 p.m. Friday, Dec. 24, 2004 at the St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita.He was born Aug. 7, 1920, in Parsons, to Tom and Florida (Suldon) Stewart. He attended Parsons schools and during World War II he served in the U.S. Navy.He was employed several years at the Meadow Gold Dairy in Parsons. After its closing in Parsons he became employed by Day and Zimmerman at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons. He retired in 1992.He was a member of the Hamilton Chapel United Methodist Church.On July 22, 1941 he married Virginia Lee Coker, at Independence. She survives of the home.Survivors include one daughter, Paula Stewart-Felix of San Leandro, Calif.; five grandchildren; one brother, Wilson Stewart, Sr. of Parsons; five sisters, Marion Perry of Austin, Texas, Carolyn Cunningham and Ruby Stewart both of Parsons, JoAnn Jones and Elizabeth Ross both of Topeka; and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Kathleen and Alma Stewart; three brothers, Frank "Boots" Stewart, Vernon Stewart, and Ira Stewart; and two dear friends, Marvin McKnight and Thomas McKnight. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, 2004, at the Hamilton Chapel United Methodist Church, with Pastor Edwin Coleman officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, with a flag presentation by the Parsons V.F.W. Post No. 704. The family will receive friends at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Arrangements are under the direction of the Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Parsons. Parsons Sun 28 Dec 2004

Josephine E. Robinson, 70, of Parsons died at 3:55 p.m. Monday, June 27, 2005, at Country Care nursing home in Leavenworth. She had been in failing health for the past few years.She was born May 17, 1935, in Leavenworth to Monroe and Evelyn (Morris) Stone. As a young girl she moved with her family to Parsons, where she grew up and attended schools. For many years she was employed as a caregiver and a nurse's aide in local nursing homes.She was married to Marvin S. "Buddy" Robinson in May 1984 in Kansas. He survives of the home.Other survivors include a daughter, Renea Clardy of Topeka; a grandson, Sule Abadu; a granddaughter, Shawntell Clardy; several great-great-grandchildren; six sisters; two brothers; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, Charles.The service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home with the Rev. Edward Scott officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials to Southeast Kansas Respite Services may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 405 Main, Parsons.

Lois Charlene Coker, 74, of Parsons died at 4:07 p.m. Friday, May 12, 2006, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, where she entered Thursday.She was born March 29, 1932, in Georgetown, Texas, to Charles M. and Wiley M. (McClain) Robinson. She moved to Parsons with her family when she was 15 years old, graduated from Parsons High School in 1948 and attended Parsons Junior College. She married Harry Coker on April 9, 1949, in Oswego. After their marriage, they lived in Connecticut, California and Hawaii before returning to Parsons in 1971. He survives.Mrs. Coker was employed more than 30 years at Guthridge Elementary School as an instructional aide and was currently working in that capacity. She enjoyed working with children and spent much time after school tutoring children at school, at church and at her home. She was one of the several persons in the Parsons school district who established the Very Important Pupil (V.I.P.) program, which was a cooperative tutoring program between Parsons High School and Guthridge Elementary School and is nationally recognized. She was a member of Hamilton Chapel United Methodist Church and was a Sunday school teacher, a member of a Bible study group and worked in the summer vacation Bible school program.She was among the first respite care providers for Respite Care Services, working in conjunction with Parsons State Hospital and Training Center-Kansas University Affiliate. She was active in the Mother-to-Mother program in Parsons. Survivors include four sons, Donald Coker and his wife, Carol, of Oceanside, Calif., Harry Coker Jr. and his wife, Kendra, of Clinton, Md., Anthony Coker of Oakland, Calif., and Jason Coker and his wife, Hideko, of San Diego; five daughters, Linda Tiggs and her husband, Maurice, of Richmond, Calif., Joyce Coker and her husband, Moussa Kaba, of Orange, N.J., Tina Coker of Richmond, Calif., Leslie Aubert of Torrance, Calif., and Lori Coker of Parsons; eight grandchildren, Jacynth Coker, Amani Coker, Ayana Coker, Ryan Aubert, Logan Aubert, Ahmad Kaba, Ayane Coker and Airi Coker; two brothers, Marvin Robinson and Edward Robinson and his wife, Debbie, both of Parsons; four sisters, Marcelle Roberts, Bernice Roberts and her husband, William, Helen Singleton and her husband, John, and Ellen Ingram, all of Los Angeles; her sister-in-law, Virginia Stewart of Parsons; and her longtime pet, Sid "Vicious" Coker. The service will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Hamilton Chapel United Methodist Church with the Revs. Lewis Smith and Edwin Coleman of ficiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.Memorials are suggested to the Lois C. Coker Memorial Fund to benefit the children of Parsons. Parsons Sun May 15, 2006