Jonnie Parkinson

Jonnie Louise Parkinson, 80, of Biloxi, MS, died Saturday, December 2, 2006, in Gulfport. Miss Parkinson was born in Durant, MS and was a longtime resident of Biloxi. She was a graduate of Durant High School and attended nursing school at the University of Mississippi. Miss Jonnie had been labled the "First Lady" of the paving industry in the American South. She was an owner of Gulf Paving Company which was significant in the rebuilding of the Mississippi Coast after Hurricane Camille in 1969. In 1973 the company obtained a four million dollar contract to construct Interstate 10. Gulf Paving was the first company on the Mississippi coast to go to full depth paving, which was a new method of paving which speeds construction. They were also the first company in the area to use electronically controlled paving machines. Miss Jonnie later opened "The Project". The Project is a local restaurant and lounge which is well known for its steak sandwiches. For many years Miss Jonnie cooked Thursday lunch and served it at no charge to her patrons. Her brother, Roy H. Parkinson, Sr., preceded her in death by four days. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Boyette and Maggie Parkinson; brothers, Boyette Parkinson, Jr. and Jerry D. Parkinson, and a great niece, Claudia Blair Burkes; She is survived by her sisters, Cathryn Maxwell of Webb, Pauline Phillips of Memphis, and Jane Parkinson Smith of Lexington; numerous nieces and nephews; and sisters-in-law, Melba Layton Parkinson of Gulfport, and Dora Parkinson of Durant. She is survived locally by her nieces and nephew, Paula Parkinson of Biloxi, Dr. Rhonda Clark of Biloxi, Jennifer Burkes of Gulfport, and Roy H. Parkinson, Jr. of Gulfport; great nieces and great nephews, Tripp Parkinson, Hayden Parkinson, Gentry Burkes, Stephen Clark and Skylar Parkinson. Funeral services will be Monday, December 4, 2006, at 1 p.m. at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes in Biloxi where friends may visit one hour before service time. Entombment will follow at Southern Memorial Park.