Obituary: Angela Faye Parris

Angela Faye Parris was born in Jacksonville on January 26, 1960 to Betty Ann and Wilson Smith. She was the first of four children. Angela attended Pine Forest Elementary School and Matthew W. Gilbert Middle School. She graduated from Samuel W. Wolfson Senior High School in 1978. In pursuit of a higher education Angela attended the Florida State College at Jacksonville and received an Associate of Arts degree in Business in 1980. She continued her educational career by attending the University of North Florida. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Marketing in 1983.

Angela was raised in the House of God Saints in Christ church organization where she attended the Gospel Tabernacle Church. The late Ralph Ragland was the pastor. During this time Angela was a member of the J. L. Lippmann Fellowship Choir where Maxine Davis was the director. She started singing at the age of 12 and in a few years formulated the Smith sisters singing ensemble that included Angela's other two sisters. They sang together for many years.

After graduating from the University of North Florida she began working in the business field and eventually met Minister James E Parris, Jr. They fell in love and James and Angela were married on July 6, 1985. Angela joined the Faith Deliverance Worship Center (FDWC) soon after they were married. She worked diligently as church usher and choir member for many years.

In the fall of 1985 Angela was hired by the city of Jacksonville property appraisers office where she progressed through the ranks from the position of field appraiser to the position of supervisor. In 1996, after ten years of working for the city Angela retired to become a full time stay at home mom, wife and church worker. Later in 1996 she took in her grandmother, the late Maggie M. Overstreet and cared for her grandmother until her grandmother's death. In 1998 Rev. James Parris, Jr. was appointed pastor of Faith Deliverance Worship Center and Angela was appointed first lady to her husband. The late bishop James E. Parris, Sr. made the appointment. Pastor Elwyn Jenkins officiated at the installation. In 2002 Rev. James Parris, Jr. was ordained bishop and Angela was ordained co-pastor of the church.

In 1989 Angela founded the dance ministry for Faith Deliverance Worship Center (FDWC). In 1996 Angela co-founded the Kingdom School of Dance with the late Dr. Edwarlena Heath. In 1996 she also became the co-owner and corporate secretary for The Parris Company architecture and construction firm. She assisted her husband with the design and construction of projects all over Jacksonville. In 1997 Angela was appointed ladies ministry president for the church. In the fall of 2004 she took over the music department for the church and began to implement a praise and worship curriculum for all of the church
choirs that continues to this day. She was officially appointed Minister of Music in 2006 by her husband.

In 2008 Angela became executive board member for the FDWC Tempette Learning Academy K-12th Grade Christian Private School. As a board member for the Tempette Learning Academy she volunteered as a counselor and educational advisor. Angela then began to volunteer as a finance clerk, part-time secretary and full time food-service cook. In 2011 she attended the Florida State College Early Childhood Education Program. In 2012 Angela, and her husband, received their National Daycare Directors Credential and Florida Staff Credential licenses. Angela departed this life and entered into heaven on
March 24, 2012.

In addition to her husband, James Parris, Jr., Angela leaves behind three phenomenal children, Tamara, Adrianne, and James III; a mother-in-law, Isabelle Parris; three siblings, Judy Howard (Dwayne), Jerome Wilson, and Sheryl Peterson (Ronald); two brothers-in-law, Bobby Heath and Derick Powe (Ouida), seven nieces, Alexis, Tori Peoples (Jason), Kayla, Dayjah Sessoms (Cairo), Serria Powe, Destiny Heath, Selah Powe; one nephew, Bobby Heath, Jr; grand nieces and grand nephews; and an enormous host of uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, and many loved ones.