Street renamed to honor Earline Parmon
In honor of Forsyth County’s first black sen-ator, the corner of Carver School Road and Bates Drive, located in northeastern Winston-Salem, has been renamed Earline Parmon Drive. Parmon died earlier this year fol-lowing a brief illness.
Photo by Tevin Stinson
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
The corner of Bates Drive and Carver School Road has been renamed to honor former N.C. lawmaker and social justice warrior Earline Parmon.
The street named to honor Parmon last month is across the street from Carver High School. American flags fly under the sign that now reads “Honorary Earline Parmon Drive.”
Parmon, who passed away following a brief illness earlier this year, was elected to the senate in 2012 after serving in the N.C. house for 10 years. Before that, she served 12 years on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners.
Parmon was an educator as well. She founded the now defunct LIFT Academy, a charter school that is credited with graduating youth who had been written off by the public school system.
Just before her untimely passing, Parmon worked as the outreach director for U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, who represents the 12th District, which currently includes parts of Forsyth and Guilford counties. Adams said Parmon had a special gift of connecting with people.
“She was honest, courageous, straight-forward and compassionate. She was committed to the people and concerned about their welfare,” said Adams. “Earline Parmon gave a voice to the voiceless. We are all much better as a result.”
