Ocala couple honored for six decades of service to church

Jo Ann and Ben Parramore were recently recognized for 60 years of service at Fort King Presbyterian Church in Ocala. [Photo submitted by Joanne Cornell-Ohlman]

When it comes to church volunteers, few can compare with the legacy of Ben and Jo Ann Parramore, longtime members of Fort King Presbyterian Church of Ocala.

During the regular Sunday service on Dec. 8, the Parramores were recognized for 60 years of faithful dedication. Members signed a handmade plaque that bore the words, “Our Angels!” and presented it to the Parramores along with individual gift cards.

The Rev. Bob Scott, who has been serving as interim pastor for the last six months, said the Parramores have been involved in the church since its founding.

“We wanted to thank them for all they have done, especially as founders, builders, and sustainers of the church,” Scott said. “They have done so much to keep the property in repair. Ben has been charing the property ministry and has served on it much of the time for 60 years. Jo Ann was one of the founders and one of the few who are still left. They are there every Sunday and are still very active.”

Besides Sunday morning services, the Parramores attend Wednesday Bible study and committee meetings.

“It’s been their church home,” said Scott. “In the short time that I’ve been there, they are at the church all the time, meeting with contractors, carpenters, electricians, not just for the property, but they help out in the church office, and they help out with audio/visual (technology) on Sunday mornings. They also are part of caregiving in the church. They literally know everyone and, of course, everybody knows Ben and Jo Ann.”

The original owners of Parramore Music store in Ocala, the couple also made time to help out in the community and their interest in church activities continued to grow after they sold the downtown business to a relative, Scott said.

“They have been an Ocala institution for a long time,” Scott said. “It truly is humbling how much Ben and Jo Ann have done. They love the Lord, but they also love Fort King and all it stands for. They just poured their heart and soul in it for 60 years.”

Jo Ann Parramore modestly shrugged off the recognition.

“It was an honor, but it’s what we do,” she said. “We do it because we want to, and we love to.”

Jo Ann was one of the charter members, having moved from First Presbyterian Church when the Fort King ministry started. She said Ben came over five years later, but they both wanted to be involved from those early years.

“We were on the property committee,” she said. “Ben’s been on the finance committee, and we were both elders. The property committee is the biggest challenge because there’s always something to fix. You think you’ve got it all lined up and then the toilet breaks or the roof leaks.”

One of Jo Ann’s favorite projects is Congregational Care, which requires being in touch with people who are sick or in the hospital and helping with the reception after a funeral. Then there are the behind-the-scenes jobs that also attracted her.

“They call me ‘the closet cleaner,’” she said. “I go in and anything worth giving, I give it away, if not, I throw it away. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve ever worked on. I like projects like Hope House. It’s a little house on our property. At one time we used it for Sunday school and the pastor had an office there. We use it for a lot of things—book club, slow stitch class, and just a place to sit around and chill out. We’re family.”

According to Jo Ann, Ben also plunged into his own special projects.

“He set up a Disaster Preparedness program to call people before, during, and after a storm to see what they needed,” she said. “Ben said that was one of the things he enjoyed the most.”

Longtime members Buddy and Anne MacKay have known the Parramores since the beginning and also helped with the founding of Fort King Presbyterian Church.

“They were just genuine is the way I would describe them,” said Anne MacKay. “You always want them on your side because they know what to do and they do it. They literally kept the church together. When there was something that needed to be done, they did it.”

The recognition ceremony came about when the session of elders realized the Parramores were going to step down from leadership positions for health reasons, said Joanne Cornell-Ohlman, another longtime member. Ben is getting ready to have hip surgery, she said.

“We realized they deserved some type of recognition,” Ohlman said. “We had the entire session—about a dozen elders—walk to the front of the church where they started talking about them. People had secretly submitted photos, and we had a slide show. They’re not the type that look for a lot of recognition. So, it was exciting that so many people wanted to show their appreciation for all they have contributed to the church.”

This plaque was presented to the couple in recognition of their longtime commitment to the church. [Photo submitted by Joanne Cornell-Ohlman]