Margaret "Maggie" Bell Parsons

Margaret "Maggie" Belle Pearl Parsons departed this life in peace in the arms of Jesus on December 9, 2025 at 4:20 p.m. at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Maggie is the 2nd oldest child of 14 children born to Joseph Pearl and Mary Mitchell Pearl's on May 25, 1935 in New London, Missouri. Maggie was loving known as "Maggie Belle", "Magpie", and "Aunt Maggie". She was loved by everyone she met. She was known for her generosity, quick wit, love of people, and her cooking. She helped raise her younger siblings. Close with her older brother Joe and younger brother Franklin, they called themselves the Three Musketeers. Maggie began cooking at the age of 8 with her father's instructions because her mother had been put on bed rest during one of her pregnancies. She mastered the art of cooking and was known far and wide for her baked goods and fried chicken, especially her lemon pound cakes. Maggie was known for helping anyone in need and taking many people into her home when they needed it. She loved children and would shower them with the affection and love she felt they needed. She was known to take the shirt off her back for anyone. She was an outspoken person when it came to the rights of others and would sacrifice whatever she had for the betterment of someone in need. She had a habit of telling some of her siblings, "There's no need to fear, your big sister is here." She loved her siblings and tried her best to be whatever they needed providing support and love to all of them. Maggie confessed Christ at an early age and was baptized at Davis Chapel Church near Bowling Green, Missouri. Maggie was a member of Victory Christian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the time of her death. Maggie attended Lincoln School in Louisiana, Missouri and graduated as valedictorian. After graduation, Maggie married Albert Thompson, a piano player and moved to Chicago, Illinois for six months. In Chicago, she worked as a secretary at the Sears and Roebuck Company and as a nanny to another family. After six months, Maggie moved back to Pike County, Missouri and began working for the Burn's family and working at the Pike County Memorial Hospital in housekeeping and then as a nurse's aide. Maggie later married Delbert Parsons and from that union was five children: Debra J. Parsons, Marsha L. Parsons, Wanda P. Parsons, and Delbert Parsons, Jr. who died at birth, and Ivy F. Wilson. In 1981, Maggie moved to Berkeley Missouri and began working for the Blind Girl's home as a cook. She later obtained a job at McDonnel Douglas (Now Boeing) in St. Charles, Missouri as one of their head bakers. In 1993, Maggie moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma with her daughters and began working for Avis at their headquarters in the Oxy-Center. There, Maggie was again the head baker for the company. Maggie was a family historian and passed down many stories to family members. She believed only the truth of past generations would help future generations to thrive and become strong. Maggie is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Mary Mitchell Pearl; her daughter Marsha Parsons and son Delbert Jr., her brothers Joseph "J.T." Pearl, Franklin Pearl, and Michael Ray Pearl; her half-sister Willella Carr Farris, Dorothy Pearl (died at infancy), Mary Alice Pearl Jones, Sandra Pearl Harvey, Caroline June Pearl, Sharon Pearl Watts, and Patricia "Joann" Reynolds, along with several nieces and nephews, and a special nephew Hosea Reynolds. Maggie leaves to mourn her daughters: Debra Parsons (Tulsa, OK), Wanda Parsons (Tulsa, OK), and Ivy Wilson (St. Peters, MO), one step-son Keith Mabon (New Jersey), two grandsons: Brandon Thomas (St. Louis, MO) and Justin Thomas (St. Charles, MO), one granddaughter Jayla Wilson (St. Peters, MO). Siblings, Opal Turner (Huntsville, AL), Helen Robinson (St. Charles, MO), Richard Pearl (Boonesville, MO), Kenny Pearl (Clarksville, MO), a close cousin/sister/side-kick Polly Ray and her daughters (Pat, Catherine, Paula, Alice, Valerie), special nephews Avery Pearl, Wilford Moore Jr., Curtis Anderson Jr., Christopher Clark; Bruce Pearl, Frankie Pearl Wilson, Caleb Hawkins, a name sake and close niece Toni (Margaret #2) Barger, three nieces she helped raise: Tanya Davis, Heather Robinson, Naomi Robinson, and Natalia Robinson; along with one close cousin she called her son, Kenny Griffith; an adopted son James Washington (Junior), two adopted daughters Willie Mae Lightener and Palmetta Henderson, 26 nieces and nephews, a host of great nieces and nephews, and a large number of great-great nieces and nephews and multiple friends. Pallbearers: Carlos Thomas, Brandon Thomas, Justin Thomas, Richard Pearl, Kenneth Pearl, Bruce Pearl, Craig Warfield and Matthew Warfield, Honorary Pallbearers: Curtis Anderson, Jr., Wilford Moore, Jr, Kenneth Griffith, Christopher Clark, Sr and James Wilson (Jimmy) Viewing, 10am - 8pm, Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at Moore's Southlawn Funeral Home, 9350 E. 51st Street, Tulsa, OK.. Funeral Service, 12 pm, Friday, December 19, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church, Louisiana, MO. Moore's Southlawn Funeral Home in Tulsa, OK will be officiating the services and Maggie will be buried in the Louisiana Cemetery in Louisiana, MO.

Margaret "Maggie" Bell Parsons

May 25, 1935 - December 9, 2025