Alva Elaine Parsons was born on Spring Street in Cookeville, Tennessee, the third daughter of A. T. (Tom) Parsons and Daisy May Caruthers Parsons. Her mother passed away at age 30 of Nephritis. For several years Alva was a care-giver for her sister, Virginia Benson, who also died, at age 46, of Nephritis.

Her father later married Thelma Ford Parsons and the family moved to Crossville, where the daughters attended school. During the Great Depression the family moved to Greensboro, North Carolina, where Alva's father worked at the Cone Knitting Mills until they were able to return to Crossville.

She was a charter member of the Oak Hill Baptist church in Crossville, and at her death was a member of the  West Haven Baptist Church church in Cookeville.

Alva worked for a time at Roselon Southern knitting mills in Crossville. After graduation she worked at Y-12, in Oak Ridge in the Ford-Bacon-Davis Building where she was a weld checker. During her work she had one bad weld that caused a nose-bleed, and she was checked for radiation exposure. She returned to Cookeville where she worked at Drug Store for several years. She ended her working career as a cashier at Tennessee Tech University Cafeteria.

In the declining health of later years she fell and had broken both hips. When a second surgery was improperly completed, Alva was moved to Smyrna to be closer to her caregivers, Niece, Dr. Ruth Elaine Benson and her husband, Philip McMillin. Revision surgery was completed by Dr. Craig Morrison and was completely successful.  Though unable to walk after the second break, she still managed to paddle her wheelchair all round the nursing home visiting with everyone, and was completely pain free.

Alva is survived by her son, Michael Parsons of St. Augustine, Florida, Niece, Dr. Ruth Elaine Benson and husband Philip McMillan of Smyrna, Tennessee,  brothers, Eugene Parsons (Barbara) of Crossville, and Thomas Parsons (Norma) of Tampa, Florida.  She is also survived by nieces and nephews, Rosaletta Allen of New York, Catherine Matsuda (David) of Washington, D.C., Kent and Jeff Parsons, Laurie Muir, Karen Groh of Tampa, Florida, Hope Parsons, Bonnie Netherton, Carolyn Ferris, Terry Maynard, of Crossville.

She was preceded in death by her parents, step-mother, sisters, Virginia Benson (Johnny), Ruth Maynard (Austin).She will be laid to rest in the Oak Hill Baptist church cemetery, Crossville at a later date. Woodfin Chapel, Smyrna is in charge of arrangements www.woodfinchapel.com