“Dean of Pastors” Dies

Pastor Aston Parchment

Nicknamed “Dean of Pastors,” retired pastor, Aston Parchment died in Kingston, on Tuesday April 21, 2015, after ailing for some time. He was 82.

“Pastor Parchment has served West Jamaica Conference, and by extension the Jamaica Union Conference with distinction for a number of years. His quiet demeanor, professionalism, competence as a pastor, really inspired and motivated younger pastors,” said Pastor Everett Brown, president of Jamaica Union.

“He sets the tone, he sets the example for younger men who are aspiring to serve the pastorate,” Brown added.

“You have to admire him for his organizational skills; he was great pastoral administrator. His churches were always organized for witnessing, which resulted in him being a centurion or double centurion every year,” said Pastor Donovan Williams, Executive Secretary of West Jamaica Conference (WJC).

“He was most humble, and was always punctual,” Williams added.

Born in Watchwell, St. Elizabeth on August 16, 1932, Pastor Parchment was employed to West Jamaica Conference on January 1, 1958. He was ordained to the Gospel Ministry in 1964, and served several pastoral districts across the Conference.

“Pastor Parchment was a veteran pastor in the Conference, he has served outstandingly, throughout his ministry he lead thousands of individuals to Christ,” said Pastor Egnal Grant, Ministerial Secretary, WJC.

“From the pulpit I remember his voice distinctly,” said Marion Barrett-Popkin, Treasurer of WJC, who remembered him during his tenure as her pastor in the Lottery District of Churches. “When we visited with him a few years ago, as administrators, his voice seemed the same never waned…, he seemed so strong then that the news of his illness and subsequent passing was a shock to me,” Barrett-Popkin added.

“He was a man of the Word, he knows God’s Word, and he lived the Word,” remarked Millicent Sewell, Administrative Assistant at WJC.

“We used to call him the walking Bible. He was a very humble man,” said Jewette Lowe, a member of the office staff at WJC. “He pastored me while I was at the Glendevon, and he always dealt with us in a loving way,” she added.
Pastor Parchment retired from active ministry at the end of December 2000. At the time of his retirement he was the Pastor of the Mt. Carey District of Churches.

The Thanksgiving Service for the life of Pastor Parchment will be on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 10:00 am at the seventh-day Adventist Conference Center, Mt. Salem, Montego Bay. Interment will be at the Hillview Memorial Gardens, Moore Park, St. James.

Pastor Parchment is survived by his wife of 53 years, Eloise, son, Kingsley, daughters, Joidy, and Patrice, grandchildren, and other relatives.