Pope, Tessa Kay Parnell (LaFayette)
Tessa Kay Parnell Pope, 58, of LaFayette passed away Friday, October 11, 2019.
Tessa was a lifelong educator and mentor; she believed everyone had purpose in life and the potential to achieve it. With her characteristic stern but always loving and careful attitude she helped shape countless lives. Always putting others before herself, it's rare to find a person who had met Tessa that could not say she changed their life for the better.
A graduate of the University of Georgia, her school spirit was infectious. She could always be found on fall Saturdays wearing her red and (loudly) cheering on her Dawgs.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William “Poss” Marion Parnell III and Mary Louise Chapman Parnell.
She is survived by her loving husband of 37 years, Luther Hill Pope III of LaFayette; daughter, Mary Chapman Boury, her husband Ryan, of LaFayette; sons, Luther Hill “Bo” Pope IV, and James Aaron Felton Pope, both of Nashville; step-mother, Ann Parnell Smith, of LaFayette; brothers William Parnell IV “Tad” and his wife Tammie, of Dallas, TX., and Shawn Parnell and his wife, Katie of LaFayette; several nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral service will be held on Monday, Oct. 14, at 4 p.m. at the LaFayette First Baptist Church with Pastor Denny Patrick officiating.
Interment will be in LaFayette City Cemetery with Steve Wells officiating.
Pallbearers are Bruce Potts, John T. Mathis, Gregg Causby, Tom Causby, Starr Causby, and Buddy Henley.
Honorary pallbearers are Pat Clements, and Storey McKnight.
Family will receive friends at the church on Monday from 1 p.m. until service time.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network www.pancan.org or by mail to 1500 Rosecrans Ave. suite 200 Manhattan Beach, Ca. 90266.
Arrangements are by Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette.