Joseph Thomas La Rue / Stella E. Parsons La Rue

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm just doing my best to honor every word. Somewhere out in Henderson County, the land itself carries a name, and that name belongs to one Joseph Thomas La Rue. Born November 18, 1864, and gone from this world on February 13, 1930, this man wore more hats than most folks own coats.

Educator. Merchant. Civic leader.

Banker. Humanitarian. Prohibitionist.

Democrat. Historian. Now, if you've ever met someone who could hold all of that together without losing their mind, you know you're in the presence of something rare.

And the town of La Rue, sitting thirteen miles southeast of Athens, carries his name to this day. He served as alderman on Athens' very first city council back in 1901, so he was in on the ground floor of something that mattered. On March 16, 1892, Joseph Thomas La Rue married Stella Elvira Parsons, and together they built a family of seven children.

Now let me tell you about Stella, because the marker makes clear she is no footnote to anyone else's story. Born February 16, 1874, and passing on December 7, 1949, Stella Elvira Parsons La Rue was known as the first white child born in Terrell. Her father was no ordinary man either.

Dr. Homer Lee Parsons, M.D., Yale University, served as a surgeon in the Confederate Army. Her mother was Margaret C.R.R.

Parsons. Stella came from serious stock, and she carried that weight with grace. The community knew her as Mammy La Rue, and the marker records that she was beloved, by family and community alike, in her role as wife and mother.

Two people. One marker. One name on the map.

That's the kind of legacy that outlasts just about everything else.

What the marker says

JOSEPH THOMAS LA RUE (Nov. 18, 1864 - Feb. 13, 1930) Alderman on Athens' first city council (1901). La Rue (town 13 mi. SE) was named for him. Educator, merchant, civic leader, banker, humanitarian, prohibitionist, Democrat, historian. Married March 16, 1892, Stella Elvira Parsons. They had seven children. STELLA E. PARSONS LA RUE (Feb. 16, 1874 - Dec. 7, 1949) Known as first white child born in Terrell; Daughter of Confederate Army surgeon, Dr. Homer Lee Parsons, M.D. (Yale University), and wife, Margaret C.R.R. Parsons. In role of wife and mother, 'Mammy La Rue' was beloved of family and community. Recorded - 1970