Monthly Archives: May 2020

In spite of the pressures and strains everyone has faced during the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic, we can still pause and celebrate the educational achievements in the Gay-Parker family.

In December 2019, Pamela Barnes Ellis, daughter of Marion Barnes and Edith Gay Barnes, graduated from East Carolina University.
Pam is the granddaughter of the late Herman Gay and the late Danny Ruth Dupree Gay.

Pamela Barnes Ellis

During the 2020 Mother’s Day weekend, we recognize one of this year’s graduates, Elder Mary Alice Gay Worsley, daughter of Deacon David Gay and the late Mary Whitehurst Gay.
Mary Alice is the granddaughter of the late Robert “Pa Bob” Gay and the late Lillie “Ma Lillie” Parker Gay. The following clip is from an ECU spotlight of graduates.

Elder Mary Worsley

Most of us know many of the descendants of Pa Bob Gay and Ma Lillie Parker Gay. This post  introduces you to Pa Bob’s and Ma Lillie’s mothers and grandmothers.

Pa Bob Gay’s Grandmothers and Mother
MARY JANE JEFFERSON GAY (Pa Bob Gay’s Maternal Grandmother)
Mary Jane Jefferson Gay was born on June 1, 1842 and married Jacob Gay in 1858. She was the mother of 11 children, and 10 were alive in 1900. Mary Jane Jefferson Gay died in 1917 at age 75..
ARIA(ARIE) HEMBY GAY (Pa Bob’s Paternal Grandmother)
Aria Hemby Gay was born in 1844 or 1846 and married Richard Gay in 1868. She was the mother of 10 children. In 1910, at age 66, Aria Hemby Gay was living with George Gay, Pa Bob’s father(according to the Bob Gay-Lillie Parker marriage license in January 3, 1915).
ARIE GAY(Pa Bob Gay’s Mother)
Arie Gay was born in 1864. She was the mother of 11 children, and 5 were alive in 1910. Arie died in 1908 at age 44.

Ma Lillie Parker Gay’s Grandmothers and Mother

VINEY BARRETT PARKER(Ma Lillie Parker Gay’s Maternal Grandmother)
Viney Barrett Parker was born in 1850 and married Dempsey Parker in 1888. She was the mother of 12 children and was listed in the 1900 census as a widow, head of household.
NICEY JOYNER(Ma Lillie Parker Gay’s Paternal Grandmother)
Nicely Joyner was born in 1844 and married Turnage Joyner in 1870. She was the mother of 7 children. In her 1969 Social Security information, Ma Lillie Parker Gay listed Spence Joyner as her father.
JENNY PARKER MOORE(Ma Lillie Parker Gay’s Mother)
Jenny “Jennie” Parker Moore was born in 1864. She married John H. Moore on October 28, 1906. She was the mother of 2 children. She died in 1914 at age 36.