Judy Faye Dennis Parsons

Judy Faye Dennis Parsons, January 2, 1941 – October 25, 2023. The world changed for the better on January 2, 1941, when Judy Faye Dennis was born. The “Baby” of the family, her sister and brothers were quite a bit older than her. Surprise! She became Aunt Judy at the age of 6! She loved to celebrate her birthday the entire month of January. She never let an opportunity pass to let everyone know that she was the “Baby” and spoiled rotten by everyone who knew her. She loved her family and friends fiercely. If you were fortunate enough to be her friend, consider yourself very lucky. She grew up on 4th Avenue in Bessemer, attending Vance Elementary and Bessemer High School where she met and married the father of her three children. As a young teenager she travelled with her parents to visit her brothers who were in the military and stationed all over the United States. When asked about her travels and the places she visited like the Grand Canyon, The Rocky Mountains and Mount Rushmore, her response was always, “I don’t know, I was in the back of that station wagon reading funny (comic) books!” One of her favorite things to do was DANCE! She spent many years with her best friend Letsy Killian Hankins at The Hangout in Panama City Beach, Florida. She and Letsy often spoke of how they danced so much that they wore the soles out of the ballet slippers that they danced in. As a result of the time spent at The Hangout, she was asked to provide details to Carl Salter as he prepared to draw the iconic Hangout. She agreed only if he put her in a yellow bathing suit, her three children and their father! If you are fortunate enough to own a copy of this print, look for the yellow bathing suit and remember her and her love of dance whenever you look at it. She was also one of the original members of the Magic City Boppers. She was a great influence on her three children, teaching them a love of life, great work ethic, love of music, dance, and travel. She was always ready for a good meal, good cocktails and great company, and a road trip anywhere. She was a great cook, her specialty being Fried Chicken, biscuits (canned), she never mastered making them from scratch, and cream gravy. She was an accomplished seamstress and a DIY’er before it was cool. She loved the City of Bessemer and called it “home”. She called herself a “Cut-Off Girl.” If you knew her and she loved you, consider yourself a very lucky person! If you ever crossed her or her family or friends, she would write you off but “Kill you with Kindness” whenever she encountered you. She firmly believed in living life to its fullest and eating dessert 1st! As a young wife and mother, she was active in the Firefighters Ladies Auxiliary Bessemer Firefighters, a Cub Scout Den Mother, and an active member of the PTA when her children were in school. She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her children and friends on October 25, 2023, at the age of 82 after a lengthy illness. She was preceded in death by her parents, R. O. and Gladys Dennis, her sister, Olene Dennis Nunnally, her brothers, Teddy Dennis, and Jesse Lee Dennis and the father of her children, David Parsons, Jr. She is survived by her children, Wanda Parsons Chandler, Sandra Parson, and David “Bo” Parsons, III. Grandchildren, Rebecca Gail Chandler (Quinn Mackey) of Hattiesburg, MS, Kyle McDaniel (Sarah) of McCalla, AL, Emily McDaniel White (Cody) of Daphne, AL, great grandchildren, Caroline Victoria White, and Ace Theodore White of Daphne, AL and her lifelong friend of 75 years, Letsy Killian Hankins of Bessemer. Services will be Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 2:00 pm at Bessemer Brown Service Funeral Home, visitation from 1:00 – 2:00 with a Celebration of life to immediately follow at the Bessemer Elks Lodge. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Bessemer Elks Lodge in her memory.

Judy Faye Dennis Parsons

January 2, 1941 - October 25, 2023