Over the past few weeks, customers have stopped by a favorite local store, Parsons Gifts, to shop for the last time and share memories of the soon-to-be-closed store, which owners have said has been the most touching part. Parsons Gifts, which has more than 140 years of history in Georgia and has been in Cumming for more than 70 years, announced in late 2018 the store would close this February. Cris Willis, who owns the store with her husband, Gary, said there have been lots of emotions from her family, employees and customers. “Deciding this timing and when it was going to happen was gut-wrenching, telling my employees was the hardest part because we’re such a close-knit family and everyone here is such dear friends, and we’re just together all the time and sometimes spend more time together than with our own family, so it’s been really sad, that part has been really hard,” Cris said. “Then telling the customers, the tears that have been shed, it’s been gut-wrenching.” As tough as the decision to close was, Willis said it has also been a chance to see how much the store meant to some in the community.