Janie Pearl Batten Parnell, age 92, of Troy passed away on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at her home.
Mrs. Parnell was born September 7, 1927 in Montgomery County, NC the daughter of the late Claude Frank Batten and the late Nannie Victoria (Lamonds) Batten.
Janie graduated from Troy High School, then joined the U.S. Army Cadet Nurse Corp. She was sent to West Baltimore General Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland and graduated with a diploma degree in nursing. Janie returned home after finishing nursing school and worked at the Harris Clinic in Troy. Her next positions were in Randolph County Hospital and Montgomery Memorial Hospital until 1956. From there she went into Public Health Nursing and worked at the Montgomery County Health Department for 34 years and 9 months. She was nursing supervisor for 17 years and retired in 1990. Janie served on Montgomery County Board of Health for 3 consecutive terms (9 years) from March 1999 to March 2008. Janie's commitment and dedication has positively impacted public health and has made a difference in health care and in the lives of the people of Montgomery County.
She was a hard worker and loved rock laying, pottery, and was also an artist making figurines and leaf art. She enjoyed cooking, especially green beans, chicken casserole, and pound cakes. She was a life-long member of Laurel Hill Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and served as WMU President for many years. She loved her family and was always willing to help someone in need. She loved her chocolate and Klondike bars.
She is survived by three daughters: Bonnie P. Hittepole (Robert) of Mt. Gilead, Pat P. Blake (Michael) of Troy, and Angela P. Pettus (Richard) of Morganton, NC; five grandchildren: Adam Bates (Jennifer), Katie Gurgainus, Krista Gurgainus, Christopher Pettus and Katelyn Pettus; great grandchildren: Adrianah Bates (A.J. Holmes), Jacob Bates, Max Gurgainus, and Penelope Gurgainus; great-great grandchildren: Bradley Holmes and Amelia Mae Holmes. She was preceded in death by her husband: A. L. Parnell; sisters: Grace Hogan, Winnie Davis, Thelma Epps, Elaine Burgess; and brothers, Carlie Batten, Wade Batten, Reese Claude (Bud) Batten, and Lacy Batten.
Janie will lie in state at Pugh Troy Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St., Troy, on Thursday, May 14, 2020, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The funeral will be held at Laurel Hill Baptist Church, 1569 Troy-Candor Rd., Candor, Friday, May 15, 2020 at 1:00 PM with Pastor Todd Roseman officiating. Burial will be in Laurel Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.
Memorials may be made in Janie's memory to Alzheimers Association, Western Carolina Chapter, 4600 Park Rd., Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209, www.alz.org/northcarolina or to American Cancer Society, 4A Oak Branch Dr., Greensboro, NC 27407.
On-line condolences may be made at www.pughfuneralhome.com.
Pugh Troy Funeral Home is serving the family of Janie Parnell.