Paula Ann Parkinson

Paula Parkinson, 51, of Gulfport, passed away Sunday, July 24, 2011, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Her family was at her side. Paula was born in Mendenhall, MS on October 1, 1959 and was a lifelong resident of the MS Gulf Coast. She graduated from Harrison Central High School in 1977. Paula had a beautiful singing voice and grew up singing solos at her church. She loved to travel and made frequent trips to New York and Los Angeles. She loved photography, especially taking photographs of the lights of her life, her nephews, and two nieces. She was a volunteer at St. Patrick Catholic and West Harrison High School sporting events and never missed an opportunity to watch her nephews play baseball, football or basketball. Her beautiful smile and kind heart will be missed by all who knew her. Paula was preceded in death by her father, Roy H. Parkinson, and niece Claudia Blair Burkes. She is survived by her mother, Mrs. Melba Parkinson of Gulfport; sisters, Dr. Rhonda (Wynn) Clark of Biloxi, Mrs. Jennifer (Jeff) Burkes of Marina del Ray, CA; and brother, Roy, Jr. (Rhonda Kay) Parkinson of Gulfport. She is also survived by her nephews, Tripp Parkinson, Hayden Parkinson and Stephen Clark, and nieces, Gentry Burkes and Skylar Parkinson. Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, 2011, at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, O'Neal Road, in Gulfport where friends may visit from 1:00 p.m. until service time.