Jo Ellen Silver Parris

Jo Ellen Silver (Corn) Parris, age 78, died Monday, August 7, 2017. Jo and her twin sister, Jeanne were born October 15, 1938, in Madison County; her mother passed away shortly thereafter. Jo’s Aunt Easter and her husband Theodore Corn took the twins to raise as their own, along with their three children, Bob, T.W. and Beulah. Mrs. Parris was a resident of Buncombe County for all of her life, and was a charter member of Pine Burr Park Baptist Church where she attended for many years. Jo was the first to get married in the church. Jo attended Weaverville and N.B. High schools, where she and her twin sister played basketball, they were known as “double trouble” for the opponents. Jo and her twin sister Jeanne became members of N.B. High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Upon completion of high school, she attended WCC (University) and graduated in 1960. Jo returned to N.B. High School to teach PE and coach girls basketball. She took a year off to have her daughter, Missy. When she returned to teaching, she taught Health and PE at Erwin High School. A member of Alpha Delta Kapa Sorority, she was President for a term. Her parents, William and Ellen Allen Silver, preceded her in death along with Easter and husband Theodore Corn; Bob and T.W. Corn and Beulah Eller. Surviving are her husband of 57 years, Johnnie C. Parris; daughter, Missy Parris and husband Roger Banks; twin sister, Jeanne Coffey and husband Bill; sisters, Maxine Wills, Sylvia Joyce Silver, and Judy Ward and husband Stanley; brothers, Conley Silver and wife Catherine, Allon Silver and wife Anna Balle, and Leonard Silver and wife Betty and one grandchild, Lauren Parris. Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 11, 2017, in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, with Reverend Randy Sluder officiating. Burial will be in Ashelawn Gardens of Memory, Asheville. The family will receive friends 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., prior to the service on Friday. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Mrs. Parris’ obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.