Ellen Louise Parnell, 78, died at her home in Greenwood, Mississippi, on Sunday, September 19, 2021.

Ms. Parnell was born in Savannah and grew up in Atlanta and Holly Springs, Mississippi, graduating from Holly Springs High School in 1960. She attended the Mississippi University for Women, the University of Mississippi, and graduated from LSU-Shreveport with a degree in sociology. She retired after working many years in children's services in Columbus, Ohio, and moved back to Mississippi where she worked for Delta Health Partners in the Mississippi Delta.

Ms. Parnell loved cats and The Beatles. She was an outspoken advocate for children and those living in poverty, and she died wearing her favorite Barack Obama T-shirt.

She was preceded in death by her parents, the Rev. Stanford and Flora Ellen Blanton Parnell, and a sister, Anne Parnell Hestilow. She leaves her brother, William Parnell of Ruston; four sons, Donald Wright Abel, Jr. (Jackie) of Nashville, Stanford Douglas Abel (Margie) of Oxford, Walker Randall Abel (Holly) of Oxford, and Cameron Morgan Abel (Buddy Hendricks) of Greenwood; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and beloved nieces and a nephew.

A graveside service will be held at Alabama Presbyterian Church in Choudrant, LA, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Golden Ark Animal Shelter of Greenwood or the Leflore County Humane Society.

Wilson and Knight is in charge of arrangements.  An online guestbook may be signed at www.wilsonandknight.com