PARNELL.--Rev. William Houston Parnell was born in Dyer County, Tenn., Sept. 4, 1866, professed religion at Palestine 1880, and united with the New Bethlehem congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church the same year. In 1887 he placed himself under the care of the Hopewell Presbytery as a candidate for the ministry, and in 1888 was licensed to preach. He was ordained to the whole work of the ministry at Paris, Tenn., March 21, 1891, the sermon being preached by Rev. W. A. Boon and the charge being given by Rev. Jo McLeskey. Brother Parnell held his first sacramental service at Pleasant Ridge Church, in Benton County, Tenn. His first charge as pastor was with the Holly and Walnut Grove congregations in Tipton County, Tenn. His relation continued for two years, and as the fruits of his labors he witnessed eighty conversions and received sixty into the church. On the 22d of April, 1893, Brother Parnell became a member of the Memphis Presbytery, at which time he was elected a commissioner to the General Assembly at Little Rock, Ark., which place he filled to the satisfaction of the presbytery. In 1895 he was appointed evangelist in the bounds of the Memphis Presbytery. This year he attended six protracted meetings and preached forty-two sermons. In all the years of his ministerial life he preached four hundred and thirty-seven sermons. He preached his last sermon on Aug. 23, and on the 27th of September, 1895, fully equipped as a gospel minister, stacked his arms and was taken to the great gathering on high. Brother Parnell was educated at Bethel College. He attended the theological school at Lebanon, Tenn., two years and intended to complete the course. He was dignified, retired and unassuming. he was highly respected by the people wherever he went. The memorial services were held in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Newbern, Tenn. As per his request Rev. Jo McLeskey preached the memorial sermon, and the writer was present. Rev. J. W. Parnell, a brother of the deceased, lives at Brighton, Tenn., and is doing a noble work for the church. He and the entire family have the prayers and sympathy of many friends.       J. A. DUNLAP.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, March 19, 1896, page 575]

1896
Mortuary List
Name: W. H. Parnell
Presbytery: Memphis
Date: Sept. 27, 1895
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1896, page 45]