Lavanda Parker

Mrs. Lavanda Parker, age 59 of Resaca, passed away Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at Gordon Hospital. She was born in Red Bank, Tennessee on October 25, 1949, daughter of the late Benjamin Lloyd Stafford and Vera Cochran Stafford. Mrs. Parker was employed in the textile industry before becoming disabled, and was a member of the Ranger Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by a son, Junior Payne; a daughter, Karen Payne; two brothers, Hershel Beasley and William Beasley; and a sister, Lolita Stafford.

Survivors include her husband of 14 years, William Parker of Resaca; two sons, Michael Payne of Tennessee, and Doyle Payne of Chatsworth; three daughters, Denise Payne of Chatsworth, Deborah Jane Tipton of Wyoming, and Melinda Payne of Dalton; a brother, Frank Stafford of Dahlonega; five sisters, Juanita Ravan and her husband Ronald of Dahlonega, Dorothy Beck, Patsy Floyd, and Dean Burgess and her husband L.D., all of Cleveland, Tennessee, and Shirley Wilson of Ellijay; two step-sons, Timmy Parker and his wife Mary, and Ronald Parker, both of Calhoun; and a step-daughter, Melissa Sue Parker. A grandchild, Alex Ware, numerous other grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives also survive.

Funeral services for Mrs. Lavanda Parker will be conducted Friday at 2:00pm from the chapel of Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home, with Rev. Dwaine Shadix officiating. Interment will follow in the Fellowship Baptist Church Cemetery. Active pallbearers will include Frank Stafford, Timmy Parker, Blake Russell, Clifford Baldwin, Anthony Blackstock, Billy Howell and Corey Mills. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday from 10:00am until the funeral hour of 2:00pm.

Online condolences may be expressed and the guestbook signed at www.maxbrannonandsons.com. Family owned and operated Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home is conducting the funeral services for Mrs. Lavanda Parker, age 59 of Resaca.