Ellis Haywood Parsons, Sr.

Funeral services for Ellis Haywood Parsons Sr.,106, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at the First Baptist Church Sanctuary followed by burial in Magnolia Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 30 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Ellis was the fourth of five sons born to John B. Parsons and Minnie Florence Haywood Parsons in Candor, NC. At age 19 he was recruited by Sonoco Products to come to work at the Rockingham, NC plant and after a series of promotions was moved to Hartsville, SC. He met Annie Cole Thomas while working in Rockingham, NC, and they were married on September 3, 1942 at First Methodist Church in Rockingham. They were married for six weeks short of 70 years until Annie Cole’s death on July 23, 2012. Ellis’ career with Sonoco Products was interrupted with the outbreak of World War Two, entering the U.S. Army in 1942. After several training periods he was certified as a Century Division Ranger. In August 1944 he was shipped to Marseilles, France. His unit served with the 100th Division during the invasion of Southern France and fought on into Germany. He received a battlefield commission in Sarrebourg, France in January 1945. Ellis was a “certified member of the Sons of Bitche” for his part in the “storm and capture of the proud Citadel in the Maginot Line on March 16, 1945”. He was transferred to the 45th Infantry Division as a platoon leader. In April, after entering Bavaria, he and his captain were wounded in battle. He was evacuated to Reims, France for recovery. He returned to his unit in Dachau, Germany and was there until he returned to the U.S. in September, 1945. While serving in World War, Ellis received the Bronze Star for valor and the Purple Heart with two clusters.

Ellis returned to work in January 1946 and continued his employment at Sonoco for 46 years. He retired in 1982 after serving in several supervisory and management positions. He was instrumental in the development of the Plastics Division at Sonoco and held several patents during his career there. Since 1947 he was a member of the Lion’s Club, past club president, Lion of the Year, Melvin Jones Fellow, and member of the South Carolina Lion Hall of Fame. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church and was Chairman of the Board of Deacons in the past. He served on the Board of Visitors, Coker College. Ellis was recognized by the National Commander of the American Legion in 2023 for 75 years of continuous service for being an outstanding contributor to the programs of the American
Legion.

On the occasion of his 106 birthday, he greatly appreciated being recognized by the mayor of Hartsville by giving him the “Key to the City” of Hartsville and then declaring the day “Ellis Parsons Day”.
In 2022 The governor of South Carolina recognized Ellis with the “Order of the Palmetto” in “grateful recognition for his friendship and contributions to the state of South Carolina and her people”.

Ellis was the proud parent of three sons: Ellis Haywood Parsons, Jr, William Thomas Parsons, MD, (Mary Leslie Hudson), Edmund Cole Parsons, MD.(Michelle Dianne Snipes); Grandchildren: Thomas Cole Parsons (Kristyn Ann Gordy), Maryann Brodie Parsons, Robert Ellis Parsons, Edmund Cole Parsons, Jr, Samuel Brian Snipes; Great grandchildren: Thomas Cole Parsons II, Weston Joseph Parsons, Ellis Ann Parsons, and August William Parsons. Additionally, Ellis will be fondly remembered by numerous extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 104 East Home Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550 or to a charity of your choice.

We would like to thank Dr. T. James Bell, Dr. Mac Chapman, and Dr. Wallace Vaught, Jr, for their excellent medical care as well as Agape Hospice for their compassionate care. Also we would like to thank Willie Hough for his indispensable help on short notice.

**Posted as a courtesy to Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home, Hartsville, SC.