Jesse David Parnell

Jesse David Parnell, 88, of Fayetteville, North Carolina died Tuesday, August 28, 2018.  David was born August 7, 1930 to the late Jesse Thomas Parnell and the late Dora Elizabeth Cook Parnell.

David grew up in the Seventy-First community and graduated from high school there.

After spending time in the US National Guard, he returned home to work with his Dad building homes in and around Fayetteville.  His interest soon turned to building swimming pools.

In 1966, David founded Parnell Pool and Patio and designed and built custom pools along the east coast. He served on the Board of Directors of the National Swimming Pool Institute for many years.

In addition to the pool store, his wife, Jean Holt Parnell founded and operated Parnell’s Trim-a-Tree Shop, a Christmas tree and decoration store that was the largest of its kind in the Southeast.  It attracted visitors and tour buses from miles away.

The businesses kept David busy until he retired and began traveling with Jean in their motor home visiting every state.

After Jean’s death, David married Mary Moore and continued traveling until they moved into Village Green Retirement Center, where he continued living after her death.

David is survived by two sisters, Leona P. Penland and Addie P. Williford and a large number of great nieces and nephews, along with great great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, David requested that memorial donations be made to Grace Baptist Church, 3901 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28304.

At David’s request, there will be a small memorial service at Cumberland Memorial Gardens Mausoleum at 10:00am on Saturday, September 1, 2018.

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