Cora Lee Parmer, affectionately known as “Big Mama”, earned her heavenly wings and departed this earth on Sunday, May 17, 2020.

She was born on April 23, 1923 to Ed and Eula C. Jackson in Clayton, Alabama.  She loved the Lord and accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Springhill Baptist Church in Clayton, Alabama, where she was an Eastern Star.

After moving with her family to Akron, Ohio in 1966, Cora made her church home at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Herbert Powell.  There, she was a member of the Tribe of Joseph and the Missionary Board.

After her son became a pastor, she became a devoted member of True Deliverance Missionary Church, where she served on the Mother’s Board and the Missionary Board, under the leadership of Bishop Charles Parmer. Cora worked many years for the Board of Education, preparing lunches and had also worked for the Salem Potato Chip Company and B&R Cleaning Service.

She loved to cook and feed her community.  She also loved helping single mothers and providing shelter and advice to those in need.  But most of all, she loved being a mother and grandmother, and she had adopted many others into her family.  Her favorite saying was, “I love everybody.”

Cora was preceded in death by her parents, Ed & Eula C. Jackson; husband, Waymon Parmer Sr.; sons, Daniel & Waymon Parmer Jr.; daughters, Emmaline and Cora A. Parmer; brothers, Laimon, Clarence and William Jackson; sisters, Louise Clayton, Annie Mae Fryer, Catherine Honaker and Mary King; grandchildren, Jonathan and Angela Parmer.

She leaves to cherish her beautiful memory, children, Willie (Elizabeth) Parmer, Mary Buckley of Rockford, IL, Bishop Charles (Debra) Parmer of Cleveland, OH, Oscar Parmer of Inglewood, CA, William (Carol) Parmer, Diane Parmer, Fredrick Parmer, Dorothy Parmer and Dennis Parmer (Patricia); brothers, Elder Charles (Maggie) Jackson of Rockford, IL and Eddie Jackson of Chicago, IL; sisters, Mollie Hawkins of Lynn Haven, FL, Annette Warren of Denver, CO and Rosa Lee Johnson of Rockford, IL.  Cora had 29 grandchildren and many great and great-great grands, totaling six generations.  She also leaves many nieces and nephews who will cherish her memory forever.