Hertford County, NC - Obituary of Dr. Thomas C. Parramore ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Raleigh News and Observer DR. THOMAS C. PARRAMORE, Raleigh, Jan. 13, 2004 DR. THOMAS CUSTIS PARRAMORE, of 5012 Tanglewood Drive, Raleigh historian, author, lecturer and Meredith College history professor emeritus died January 13 at Rex Hospital following a brief illness. He was 71. A native of Winton in Hertford County, he was the son of the late Thomas C. and Frances Semmes Parramore. He graduated from Ahoskie High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned bachelor, master, and Ph.D. degrees in history before joining the faculty at Meredith College in 1962, retiring in 1992. He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957 and in the Army Reserves from 1957 to 1958. Dr. Parramore, an authority on early flight in North Carolina and North Carolina history, lectured widely and appeared on numerous television and radio programs. In all, he authored more than 40 publications, many of them under the sponsorship of the Murfreesboro Historical Association and Commission. His most recent work, "First to Fly: North Carolina and the Beginnings of Aviation in North Carolina, " published by UNC-Press in 2002, makes it clear that the Wright brothers would not have accomplished their historical breakthrough had it not been for the solid support of the Outer Bankers. While serving on the First Flight Centennial Commission and chairing its Education and History Committee, he supported the goals of a statewide celebration and searched diligently for people and activities across the state to tell the fullest story possible of the beginning of aviation in North Carolina. A witty and optimistic man by nature, Dr. Parramore's lively style of writing brought to life the rich lode of information he gleaned from years of meticulous searching of county and local records, miles of newspaper and microfilm and his determined tracking down of North Carolina descendants who had or knew of pertinent information, artifacts and pictures. His books and articles provide the kind of original research so essential for historians who compile general histories. Two of his books, "Carolina Quest" and "North Carolina: The History of an American State, " have been adopted as Eighth Grade history texts in North Carolina's public school system. Recognized throughout the state and beyond for his painstaking and authentic research, Dr. Parramore served as a consultant for the documentary film about the slave rebellion of Virginia's Nat Turner and contributed a chapter, "Covenant in Jerusalem" for Greenberg's "Nat Turner: A Slave Rebellion in History and Memory." He also was commissioned by the City of Norfolk, Va. to write the city's history titled "The First Four Centuries," a work noted for its vivid portrayal of many who lived, worked and contributed to the city's history. Dr. Parramore is survived by his wife of 38 years, Dr. Barbara Mitchell Parramore, N.C. State University professor who co-authored two of his works, and who worked in tandem with him on much of his research and writing, and by two daughters, Lynn Stuart Parramore of New York City, and Lisa Parramore Olslund of Mountain View, Calif., grandsons Alec Custis Olslund and Lucas Mitchell Olslund of Mountain View. A memorial service will be held at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church on Saturday, January 24 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 3131-100 RDU Center Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560 or to a charity of choice. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kay Early ___________________________________________________________________