Gloriana Simmons Parchman's Obituary
Gloriana Simmons Parchman went home to be with her Lord and Savior, April 27, 2026.
She was born August 7, 1932, in Olton, Texas. Her parents were Jessie Smith Simmons and Virgil Andrew Simmons.
She was a 1950 graduate of Kerens High School and a 1954 graduate of Baylor University.
She met her husband, William Leo Parchman, while a student at Baylor University. They were married May 30, 1954, two days after graduation and were married for 72 years.
Her pride and joy were her family. She is survived by her loving husband, Leo Parchman; her children, Michael Parchman and his wife Ileana, and Sheri Starnes and her husband David; her two grandsons, Kyle Starnes, and Jacob Starnes and his spouse Megan; two great-grandchildren, Lillian Starnes and Eleanor Starnes; her nephews, Russel Simmons, Ty Simmons, and Chris Beery; and her niece Wendy Beery.
Gloriana was a lifelong supporter of Baylor University. As a student, she was named to Who’s Who Among Students (1954) and served as Permanent Class Secretary for the Class of 1954. Over the years, she served on the Baylor Fling Committee for eight years; was active in the Baylor Alumni Association; served on the Baylor University Council for Institutional Development; and was a charter member of the Baylor University Women’s Council of Dallas, where she served as its second president. She was also a member of the Old Main Society, the Athletic Director’s Council, and the President’s Club. Gloriana and Leo sponsor the annual Parchman Endowed Lecture Series at Truett Seminary and have provided scholarships to the Baylor School of Business and the Athletic Department. They received the W. R. White Award for Meritorious Service.
She served in many capacities in the churches of which they were members: Manor Baptist, San Antonio; First Baptist, McAllen; First Baptist, Tyler; Broadmoor Baptist, Shreveport; Tallowwood Baptist, Houston; Woodland Baptist, San Antonio, and First Baptist, Richardson.
She was a member of the Junior Three Arts Study Club, Dallas, Northwood Woman’s Club, Dallas; and the Discimus Study Club, San Antonio.
Leo and Gloriana loved to travel and visited many countries abroad, and they took numerous cruises. But their favorite spot was their mountain house north of Santa Fe, NM.
Memorials can be sent to the 1954 Class Fund at Baylor University.
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