Gertrude Louise (Carlton) Parsons

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Gertrude Louise Carlton Parsons, age 100, of Boomer passed away on Friday, December 19, 2025, at her home. 

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM, Monday, December 22, 2025, at Thankful Baptist Church with Rev. Jeffrey Miller and Rev. Ronald Howell. The casket will be placed in the church at 2:30 PM.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM, Sunday at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. Burial will be in Thankful Baptist Church Cemetery following the service on Monday. 

Gertrude was born February 1, 1925 according to her family Holy Bible, in Wilkes County to Moses and Maggie Barnes Carlton. She was one of the first black women in her community to drive and transport women to and from work. She did domestic work for the late Worth Evan Tomlinson and Nan Davis Van Every for over 60 years. She was a proud member of Thankful Baptist Church at a very early age. She attended faithfully under the leadership of Rev. Monte Simmons in her later years. 

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Walter Lee Parsons; God-son, Rev. Richard Carlton; sisters, Amie Carlton Saner, Amelia Carlton Howell, Zora Carlton Horton, Eleanor Carlton Ferguson and brothers, Elijah Carlton, George Carlton, Wavery Carlton, Eugene Carlton, Mansfield Carlton and Rev. Fred Carlton. 

She is survived by her daughter, Arnita & Joseph Horton Sr. of Wilkesboro, NC; God-daughters, Barbara McNay, Tracie Thomas; bonus sons, Tomm Tomlinson (Robin) of Rockport, ME, Neal Tomlinson (Linda) of Ormond Beach, FL, James “Jay” Tomlinson (Jill) of Raleigh, NC; grandchildren, Tomica Horton, Joseph Horton Jr., Aaron Horton; great-grandchildren, Jasmyne Ray (Willie), Malleah Reece (Charles), Tamia Harris, Trae Harris,  Gianna Horton and great-great-grandchild, Nora Ray and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

The family will be gathering at the home of Gertrude Parsons and will receive family and friends there. 

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Thankful Baptist Church, 324 Thankful Church Rd, Boomer, NC 28606 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. 

Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com.

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