Blog no. 21

Frank Walker Parham was born on August 1, 1898, in Santa Fe, Maury County, TN, to Robert Lee Parham and Eudora “Dora” Sparkman. He had 7 siblings, and their names were Hensley McEwen Parham, Lucille Adell “Adell” (Parham) Black McKee, Francis Marion Parham, Fannie Mae (Parham) Andrews, Walter Earl/Erle Parham, Lutie Pearl (Parham) Wise, and Audry Lee “Lee” Parham.

On February 12, 1922, in Maury County, TN, Frank married Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” Kelley. He had 6 children. Their names were Leola (Parham) Shouse Beard, Bessie Walker (Parham) Hatfield, Mary Evelyn Parham, Marion Kelley Parham, Ruth Ellen “Dolly” Parham, and Farris Parham. Frank’s wife, Lizzie, lived to be 100 years old and died in 1999. I have also had the privilege of meeting Frank’s daughter Leola, who celebrated her 100th birthday in December of 2022.

Sometime around 1929, Frank and his growing family moved from Theta, Maury County, TN, to Spring Hill, TN. Frank was a great carpenter and built many of the older structures that still stand around Spring Hill, TN. One of those structures, a barn, stands on Highway 31, across from the Crossings of Spring Hill, TN. The barn was built by Frank for Frank Short and to my understanding, it’s part of the General Motors property now.

At one point, Frank’s daughter Leola lived in a house on Main Street in Spring Hill, TN. This building was torn down in 2016 to build the Spring Hill Eye Care building. Parts of the home are preserved and on display inside the eye care building to this day.

Sadly, on March 17, 1987, at Williamson Medical Center, in Franklin, Williamson County, TN, Frank died. He was buried in Spring Hill Memorial Park cemetery in Spring Hill, TN. Frank was well known in the city during his time and some people still remember him.

Special thanks to my friend, Alicia Fitts, for corrections to this blog!