Atha Mercer

ATKINS, VIRGINIA: ATHA PARKER MERCER, age 77, died Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at her home in Atkins, Virginia. Atha was born February 21, 1935 to the late Zeb Carmen and Esther Marchant Parker; and grew up in the Attoway community. She and her husband, Edwin Stanley Mercer began their relationship as childhood sweethearts. Together they operated a nursery for some time. Atha will be remembered as a woman who loved God, her family, gardening, being outdoors, feeding the birds and riding motorcycles. She was also a bit of a prankster. She loved her church and was a longtime member of Marion Baptist, serving as treasurer of her Sunday school class and taking special care of the church's rose garden. She often volunteered to use her gardening skills to help maintain the church grounds. For forty years her sweet and cheerful voice greeted callers when she served as a receptionist at Brunswick. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a sister, Peggy Antrican. Atha is survived by her husband of 59 years, Edwin Stanley Mercer of Atkins, Virginia; daughter, Alisa Mercer of Wytheville, Virginia; brother, Ernest "Ted" Parker and wife, Jane of Bristol, Tennessee; sister-in-law, Francelia Cox; aunt, Sadie Repass; and several nieces and nephews. Her life will be celebrated with a memorial service Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. at Marion Baptist Church with Dr. Mark Ross officiating and the Franklin Street United Methodist Church Choir will sing. A reception will be held in the fellowship hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Smyth County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1124, Marion, VA 24354. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is serving the Mercer Family.