Echoes of Home: Memories and Legacy at the Parksdale House

Last weekend, I met up with a woman who had reached out to me on social media. She told me she once lived in the Parksdale house in Rich Square, NC, for nearly a decade—from 1988 to 1997. Of course, my immediate response was, “Yes, I would love to chat! When is good for you?”

During our conversation, Diane recalled that “there was a tremendous amount of farmland that went with the house.” When she and her husband, Steve, inherited the property in 1988, they discovered boxes of ledgers meticulously kept by Mary Vann Lassiter—records that reflected decades of hard work and careful management.

Dr. Lassiter—the second owner—had lived in the Parksdale house with his wife, Mary Vann. He was the town doctor of Rich Square and tragically died during the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic after caring for much of the community. After his passing, Mary Vann remained in the home and took on the enormous responsibility of raising their two daughters while managing the farm entirely on her own. In her later years, she became known throughout the community for her snow-white hair, piercing blue eyes, and a presence that commanded respect.

Dr. Lassiter and Mary Vann had two daughters together; Margaret and Agnes. Not much is known about Agnes, but Margaret Lassiter went on to marry Walter “Runt” Clark Conner Sr. He served as the funeral director at the funeral home just around the corner from the Parksdale house, which I believe is now the Garrett-Sykes Funeral Home. He held that position until his passing in 1988. Margaret and Walter, who was lovingly referred to as Runt throughout the local community, had three children: Walter Clark Conner Jr., Margaret Joyce (known as Joyce) Conner, and Mary Agnes Conner.

Margaret worked at the local bank in Rich Square for many years and also cared for her mother, Mary Vann Lassiter, in her later years—all while living at the Parksdale house. Her daughter Joyce was born in the home and later married Weyland Earl (Pete) Clark. They were also residents of Rich Square. Joyce was also a local teacher and taught at the WS Creecy school in town for a period. She and Pete went on to have two children, Stephen (Steve) Andrew Clark and James (Jimmy) Conner Clark. Jimmy sadly passed away 3 years ago from cancer and is still greatly missed.

Steve later married Diane Parker—the same woman I met with last weekend. Together, they lived in the Parksdale house from 1988 to 1997. Steve had been very close with his grandfather, Runt, and inherited the house after his passing. Steve and Diane raised two children there, Kayleigh Clark and Cameron Clark, while they were young. With a heavy heart, Diane shared the unimaginable loss of their son, Cameron, who passed away in 2008 in a tragic motor vehicle accident while on leave. He was a proud and dedicated Marine. I cannot even imagine what losing a child is like.

During their time at the Parksdale house, Diane and Steve decided they wanted their children to attend school in Roanoke Rapids, so they eventually moved and sold the home through Preservation NC. It took a few years to find the right buyer. Since then, there’s a gap in the home’s timeline from the mid-to-late 2000s until about two years ago, when the current owners purchased it. I am fairly certain the home has not been lived in or inhabited since the late 1990s.

I spent two hours with Diane, though it felt like only minutes. I don’t like driving after dark anymore—my eyesight isn’t what it used to be—but Diane can no longer drive at all. This remarkable woman has endured more hardship than most ever will. She survived the removal of two brain tumors and has since lost most of her vision, now legally blind. She also faced the unimaginable grief of losing her son, Cameron, and later her beloved husband Craig unexpectedly passed as well. And yet, despite everything life has put in her path, she continues to radiate strength, warmth, and a gentle kindness that stays with you. These days, she lives for her granddaughter Kamdyn and her three rescued beagles; they are her motivation and the light that keeps her moving forward.

Thank you Diane, for spending an afternoon with me and sharing your story.

Currently… this one IS being restored!

The Parksdale house has NEW owners! As of two years ago anyways. The new owners also own the John Brown house, which is an historic home in Halifax, NC that was turned into an AirBnB. They have plans to renovated the Parksdale House and turn it into an event venue. A new roof is coming soon, which I will be documenting!

Check out my two previous posts, one on The Parksdale House where I went inside and explored the house back in August of 2025, and my post about the John Brown house.