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Claude H. Parson Jr., was born on September 7, 1928, in Demopolis, Alabama, the fourth of the thirteen children of Claude H. Parson Sr. and Mary Battle Parson. The family moved to the state of New York and Claude was educated in public school until they settled in Albany, New York. He graduated from Phillip Schuyler High School in Albany and then enlisted in the U. S. Air Force. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Education form Oswego State University in New York. Claude was born a pastor's child and raised a second generation Church of God in Christ. He began doing radio talk sermons even before his call to the ministry. After his education, Claude served out his military career as a staff sergeant in the United States Air Force. While stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, here in Las Vegas, he became a member of the Upper Room Church of God in Christ. There he met and married his soul mate and best friend, Stella Mae Mason, in 1953. Together they had three children, Jacqueline Parson Barker, Dr. Naida M. Parson, and Claude H. Parker, III. He began his career as a school teacher in 1955. He taught math, general studies, and industrial arts at Madison Elementary, Roy Martin Jr. High School, and Clark High School. He received his Master's in Education in 1959 from Arizona State University. In 1965, Claude was appointed to pastor the mission already established in Carver Park located in Henderson, Nevada. Before the year ended, he went back to North Las Vegas and the Vegas View Church of God in Christ was born.. In 1966, Pastor Parson and 14 members purchased the First Congregational Church at 1906 Gilder Street. |
Stella Mason Parson was born in 1930 to the a family of sharecroppers in the deep South. She migrated to the west with her father as a young girl. Eventually, they settled in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she became the first in her family to graduate high school. After graduation, she took a job as a maid. Stella so impressed her employer with her tireless work ethic that the woman arranged for her organization, the American Association of University Women, to offer Stella a scholarship to attend a university in Nevada. Stella choose to attend the University of Nevada, Reno. There had never been an African-American student-teacher before so special arrangements had to be made for Stella to do her student teaching. Since she was poor, Stella worked her way through school at the campus cafeteria steam tables as well as working as a domestic on weekends to cover what her scholarship did not provide. In spite of the hardships, she graduated from the university in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts in English, with minors ins education and psychology. Stella was the first African-American woman to receive a degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. Stella excelled in her profession, instructing students in the Clark County schools for33 years. In recognition of her dedication and many teaching awards, which included the President's Medal from UNR, Teacher of the Year and a listing in Outstanding elementary School Teachers of America, this school was name in her and her husband's honor. After retiring, Stella enrolled in the Marriage and Family Therapy master's program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She earned her Master of Arts degree in 1986 at the age of 56. She used her most recent degree to counsel church members and their families. |
