A memorial continues to grow outside Dolly Parton’s Nashville-area residence as fans remember the country music legend and philanthropist, who died Tuesday at the age of 80.
Fans have left cards, candles, balloons and other tributes. Parton died peacefully in a Nashville hospital following recent health issues. Her representative said the country music legend died following a “brief battle with cancer”. Just days before her death, Parton spoke about her recent health struggles saying she was “still healin” and determined to keep working. Her family plans to hold a small private service.
The family is encouraging memorial donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which Parton founded in 1995 to provide free books to young children. The program has distributed more than 300 million books worldwide.
In Southern Illinois, donations can be made to Read SI, the local Imagination Library affiliate. A $16 donation provides books to one child for an entire year.
Parton also had ties to Southern Illinois, performing at the Du Quoin State Fair in 1969, 1975 and 1979, as well as at SIU Arena in Carbondale in 1977.
Checks supporting Read SI can be mailed to Read SI, P.O. Box 1772, Marion, IL 62959.