Rita P. Carson

Rita Faye Parson Carson 69, of Jacksonville, FL, born December 5, 1946, went home to be with Jesus on July 2, 2016, Born in Richmond, VA to William C. (Bill) Parson and Edria Winstene (Wink) Parson. Rita grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Rita was a 1964 graduate of Central High School where she played the clarinet in the marching band and a 1969 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University. Rita went on to obtain her Master’s degree in Christian Education from Trinity Theological Seminary. She was an outstanding educator for 42 years. Rita began teaching in Chattanooga, TN at Clifton Hills Elementary, then East Lake Middle School and Dalewood Middle School. She and her family moved to Jacksonville, FL in 1985. Her love was teaching in Christian education and taught at Christian Heritage Academy and Grace Christian Academy. She then began teaching at Providence School of Jacksonville in 1997 and retired from there in 2011. The Lord used her in many ways and she was a great testimony for Christ’s love. She touched so many people, led many teenagers to the Lord and modeled what a disciple of Christ should look like for us all. Rita was a loving wife of 35 years to her devoted husband and best friend Ernest Timothy (Butch) Carson; a devoted mother to son Joshua Timothy Carson and late daughter Kelly Kristen Phillips Alt. She was a wonderful and loving grandmother who adored her grandsons, Chase Timothy Phillips and Caleb Timothy Alt. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Bill and Wink Parson, daughter, Kelly Kristen Phillips Alt and brother, Thomas W. Parson of Chattanooga, TN. Survived by her husband Ernest Timothy (Butch) Carson; son, Joshua Timothy Carson; brother and sister in law Don L. Parson and Susie Parson (Jacksonville); brother Ronnie R. Parson (Chatt.); Sister in law, Betsy Parson(wife of late brother Tom Parson, Chatt); Sister, Joyce Lynn Parson Patterson (Nashville, TN) as well as many cherished nieces and nephews that she loved dearly and loved her dearly, many very close friends that meant world to her, too many to name. Rita was evidence that God still uses all we walk through in this world for His glory and was never ashamed to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with anyone she came in contact with. Her sweet, gentle, and funny spirit will be greatly missed. A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, July 9, 2016 with visitation before at 10:00am at New Life Christian Fellowship located at 2701 Hodges Blvd in Jacksonville, FL. Visitation will also be held on Friday, July 8, 2016 from 3:00pm to 8:00pm at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin. Graveside services will be held at Chattanooga National Cemetery on Monday, July 11, 2016 at 1:00pm. Pallbearers will be Joshua Carson, Derek Patterson, Little Ronnie Parson, Chad Parson, Ron Parson, and Don Parson.