Joan Loretta Parsons Silver May 2, 1937 – December 29, 2018 Mrs. Joan Loretta Parsons Silver, 81, departed this life, took the angels’ hands, received her wings and took flight to her Heavenly home on Saturday, December 29, 2018 surrounded by family. She was a lifelong resident of the area. Joan was born in Warwick County (Newport News) on May 2, 1937 to the late Eastwick W. and Harriett L. Parsons.
She was the youngest of nine children. She attended Newsome Park Elementary School and graduated from Carver High School in 1954. She furthered her education by attending Norfolk State University where she received an associate degree in Music and a B.S degree in Education.
On March 10, 1956 Joan married her high school sweetheart, Coefield Silver (deceased, 2015). To their union were born a daughter (Dr. Paula Denise Silver), and a son (Wayne Coefield Silver). Together Mr. and Mrs. Silver believed their children were always their biggest investment.
They instilled in their children that family is the biggest asset, because family will always be there for you. Joan and Coefield Mrs. Silver was a retired teacher of the Hampton City Public Schools and was selected as the first African American Teacher to integrate Robert E. Lee Elementary School in Hampton in the 1960’s. Prior to teaching at Robert E. Lee Elementary, Mrs. Silver taught at Greenbrier Elementary School in Hampton.
Joan was a lifelong member of Second Baptist Church East End where she was a member of many ministries and served as Organist for over 30 years. Mrs. Silver became a deaconess at the age of 26 as her late husband, Coefield (deceased) was made a deacon at age 27. They were and still remain the youngest deacon and deaconess in the history of the church.
Mrs. Silver was made Mother of the Church in 2017. She said, “God had blessed her through many illnesses to see that special day”. In addition to being active in her church until her illness prevented her from doing so, Joan was a Member of the Hampton Retired Teachers Association, Life Member of the Virginia Educators Association, National Educators Association, The Victoria Place Civic Association, The Fun Tours Group Leaders, The Hampton Healthy Family Partnership (Board Member), and former member of Jack and Jill Inc. .
Joan’s special passion was cooking, and that she could do very well. There are not many people that have attended church events, visited her home, or had family problems that she would not provide a meal or other assistance. Wherever, Joan went to stores, restaurants, even the hospital as a patient, she impacted people in a positive way.
Her sweet, soften spoken spirit always would illustrate her walk with God at all times. Joan was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, the late Coefield Silver as well as her parents Eastwick W. and Harriett L. Parsons, and seven of her 8 siblings: Lorenzo Parsons, Daniel Parsons, Alexander Parsons, Vincent Parsons, Eloise Parsons, Bonnavetta P. Greene, and La Pearl Parsons. Mrs. Silver is survived by her daughter, Dr. Paula D. Silver of Hampton, a son, Wayne C. Silver of Chesapeake, granddaughter, Olivia N. Silver and her mother Olive M. Silver of Virginia Beach.
Joan’s surviving sister, Elaine P. Campbell, of Hampton, sister-in-law Marine S. Simmons of Lakewood, Washington, and a host of many nieces, nephews, family and friends.
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