After the death of Richard (Rick) Parsons in February of 2004, his wife, Carlisle, asked that funds given in Rick’s memory be used for a memorial garden that would be for the whole church, not just her husband.
A committee of Lyn Gates, Robert Mehrle, Judith Mitchener, Carlisle Parsons, Rev. John Taylor, Keith Turnipseed, and Libby Whitten was appointed to accomplish this goal; and a site on the north side the church was selected.
Eventually it was decided to create a memorial terrace in a garden setting. The design of the paved area, drawn by Libby Whitten, consisted of rustic stones outlined by old brick in a grid pattern, with a fountain in the center. These materials were chosen to have an aged appearance that would blend with the church exterior. Evergreen plantings, overseen by Judith Mitchener and Keith Turnipseed, supplied year-round beauty and a sense of the eternal.
Libby Whitten and Lyn Gates selected Christian symbols and lettering for the stones which were, and continue to be, engraved in memory of church members and ministers.
The Richard Lynn Parsons Memorial Terrace was dedicated on All Saints’ Day, November 6, 2005
The original central fountain was later replaced by a Gothic Architectural piece that centers the space today. Through the years the Terrace has become a place of treasured memories, a lovely area for outdoor occasions, and a spot for quiet meditation.
A committee of Lyn Gates, Robert Mehrle, Judith Mitchener, Carlisle Parsons, Rev. John Taylor, Keith Turnipseed, and Libby Whitten was appointed to accomplish this goal; and a site on the north side the church was selected.
Eventually it was decided to create a memorial terrace in a garden setting. The design of the paved area, drawn by Libby Whitten, consisted of rustic stones outlined by old brick in a grid pattern, with a fountain in the center. These materials were chosen to have an aged appearance that would blend with the church exterior. Evergreen plantings, overseen by Judith Mitchener and Keith Turnipseed, supplied year-round beauty and a sense of the eternal.
Libby Whitten and Lyn Gates selected Christian symbols and lettering for the stones which were, and continue to be, engraved in memory of church members and ministers.
The Richard Lynn Parsons Memorial Terrace was dedicated on All Saints’ Day, November 6, 2005
The original central fountain was later replaced by a Gothic Architectural piece that centers the space today. Through the years the Terrace has become a place of treasured memories, a lovely area for outdoor occasions, and a spot for quiet meditation.