Mrs. Cora Louise Parchia

A beautiful baby girl, the 7th of 10 children, was born to Deacon Lamey Louis and Hester Simmons Johnson, February 7th, 1930. She was named Cora Louise, after a devout missionary member of her home church in Chicago, The Apostolic Faith Church, then pastored by the late Bishop John S. Holly, currently under the pastorate of Bishop Horace E. Smith II, M.D. Cora was always a special child, devoted to the ways of God, and the church was her second home. As a young girl, she rode the bus early Sunday mornings to be among the first to arrive for Sunday School, and there began a legacy of commitment to Christ that would carry her through a number of significant "firsts" in her Christian walk. Her parents saw the potential through her giftings; and although the family lived on a modest income through her father's self-employed business, they sacrificed to send her to the prestigious Chicago Conservatory of Music, ar d saw her excel among the tirst of African American students to attend there. How could they know that God was preparing her for the role of pastor's wife of a congregation that would require her to become pianist, organist and serve as choir director for over 35 years and eventually pastor the church God had called her sainted husband to pastor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin? Her training continued and enabled her to become the first member ofthe Apostolic Faith Church to receive a college degree. She graduated with honors from Chicago Teacher's College in Chicago. Of course that teaching gift saw its way to her teaching and training others to teach in the Sunday School Department. During a time when few could afford to attend the National Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (P.A. W) Conventions, she was the first chosen to represent the church at succeeding conventions. This exposure and experience led to a lifelong participation and commitment to service with the P.A. W., eventually leading to her becoming the President of the International Ministers' Wives of the P.A.W., and additional involvement in P.A.W. women's ministries. Through her bold, non-traditional, cutting edge leadership, she brought many "firsts" to the forefront of that auxiliary that commanded the attention of the general body, causing leadership at the Bishop Board level to confront issues impacting women in the church. These were Issues that were not "talked about" - but nevertheless needing exposure and remedy. She became an in-demand speaker throughout the country. For those who knew her personally -- any acknowledgement of this great woman would be incomplete without addressing her pristine character. Dr. Parchia was a woman of grace, integrity and quiet dignity. That she was lovely in beauty added to her gracefulness. Her quiet, lady-like persona, and her elegant carriage however, bespoke her strong penchants to encourage, correct, and give "wisdom-isms" in her own inimitable way. Often, her humor, spoken with a sweet manner and cautioning glance, could cut you ever so sweetly. People didn't realize they had a one-minute surgery performed on their attitude or behavior, until they saw the Band-Aid left by her sweet salve of piercing words. It was often said of her gentle demeanor that she could softly bring a word of wisdom, or a word of correction in such a quiet and peaceable way, they often didn't realize they had been chastised and stung with her sweet salve of loving iodine, until they felt the sting, minutes later. Being the wife of the late Bishop Earl Parchia Sr., who was Chairman of the P.A.w. Foreign Missions Board, their travels took them around the world, where she was influential in ministering to women of many cultures, including Africa, Asia and the Caribbean Islands. As Bishop Earl Parchia was the Diocesan of the 29th episcopal district of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, State of Florida, presiding over 60 churches, he and Dr. Cora Parchia retired from leadership after 35 years of service to the churches in Florida. She was always an advocate for educational pursuits for herself and others, among whom she had great influence. She was a classically-trained musician. She would often confess that she had to "learn" how to play gospel music by ear, because she was only accustomed to reading music! She assisted several recording artists in the genesis of their careers. She encouraged many in the church to sing and play instruments they wouldn't have otherwise imagined doing. Dr Parchia was known to push you beyond your limit by saying" 'No', is not our vocabulary." She encouraged us to read music, while we were "anointed" to play. Dr. Parchia LOVED education. She came out of retirement to be a master teacher at the church's school, Early View Academy of Excellence K-12. She considered herself to be "a life long learner". She matriculated at the University of Grace and Truth, where she received a Ph.D. in Christian Education and a Ph.D. in Church Administration. She was, of course, a great influence on her children, all of whom are college educated, and serving as pastors. After the passing of her husband, she witnessed God additionally move in her life, and that of her children, in remarkable ways. In the last five years of her life, she was consecrated Pastor of the Mt. Zion Assembly of the Apostolic Faith, and later, District Elder of the Minnesota, Wisconsin and Dakota's District Council. In 2015, she was awarded a Doctorate in Religious Education (D.R.E), from Grace to Help Theological Institute. Space will not permit the many accomplishments of this great woman of grace, dignity, integrity and love for Gods people and the work of ministry; however District Elder Cora Parchia lived to see a number of "firsts" in her walk with God including the following: As a Pastor and District Elder herself, her three surviving children, Dr. Kathy Parchia, Dr. Earl Parchia, Jr. and Pastor Monica Parchia Price - all are District Elders as well, another first for the P.A.W. She, along with her three surviving children were all members of the first graduating class (three-year class course) of the Department of Transformational Learning, P. A. W, Inc. She was in the first group of African American transfer students to enroll in Chicago Teachers College; She was the first member to graduate from college at her Chicago home Church The Apostolic Faith Church affectionately known as 38th Street; She was the youngest Pastor's wife of the Illinois District Council and the Minnesota Wisconsin Dakotas District Council; She was one of the first African American women offered a scholarship for a Ph.D. in education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1967 - a special program opened for African American women to be promoted to administrative positions. It involved travel, but she turned it down at that time because she preferred to be home with her husband and children; She was the first Milwaukee Public Schools African American woman to teach in the Gifted and Talented School Program at Wells Jr. High; As President of the International Ministers Wives of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World - she was the first president to have a mid-winter conference "The Light Conference"; and founded the "Great Ladies Hall" in Indianapolis at the PAW, Inc. Headquarters site. She introduced a scholarship program that is still in existence; She was the first teacher in the Milwaukee Public School system from the Mt. Zion Assembly Healing Temple congregation; The first woman in the Mt. Zion Assembly congregation to receive doctorates - Ph.D. in Church Administration and in Christian Education. She was preceded in death by her parents, Deacon Lamey and Hester Johnson; siblings: Lamey Johnson Jr., Alice Johnson Gogins, three infants, Donald, Joseph, Doris and one teen sibling, Justine; husband of 60 years, Bishop Earl Parchia Sr, and two sons, Elder Dean Elliott and Minister Joseph Douglas Parchia. She leaves to celebrate her life and cherish each memory: her children: District Elder Dr. Kathy Parchia Flemming, District Elder Dr. Earl Parchia Jr., District Elder Monica Parchia Price (Elder Ricky Price); her siblings: Gaynell Moore, Rose DuPart (Donald), and Carolyn Fortier; grandchildren: Earl III, Elder Carlos LeMont (Paula), David (Lisa Marie), Alfred Earl, Priscilla Elizabeth, Dr. Cheryl Thomas Parchia, mother of: Mellody Esther, Jonathan Elliott and Dean Emmanuel; great grandchildren: Kayla, Talon, Sadie, Nicolas, Earl IV, Kainen, Ian, Leila, Ezra, Myles, Aiyanna, Aryanna, Daejah, Mikayla, Airiana, Raina; a host of nieces, nephews, colleagues and The Mt. Zion Nation Healing Temple Family at-large.

Mrs. Cora Louise Parchia

February 7, 1930 - March 1, 2016