Diane Parker

Diane was born January 19, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois, to the late Thomas Lyle Williams, Jr. and Marguerite Neel Williams. She attended Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia, and Finch College in New York, New York. She married John Charles Kimball Parker in 1960 in Winnetka, Illinois, and moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where they had 3 children: Tom, Stephen, and Alston.

After raising her children, Diane moved to Thomasville in 1985. As owner of The Gift Shop, she became an immediate fixture in downtown, working 6 days a week until she sold the store in 2020. She was known to greet all customers with her gracious smile. Diane lived her life with humility, loved her family fiercely, and was deeply grateful to live in Thomasville; where she quietly shared her charitable spirit with many local organizations and individuals.

Diane was preceded in death by her brother, Thomas Lyle Williams III, and her former husband. Diane is survived by her three children, Thomas Williams Parker, along with his wife, Hayley Mitchell Parker of Franklin, Tennessee, Stephen Tufts Parker, along with his wife, Kathy Snyder Parker of Aiken, South Carolina, and Alston Parker Watt, along with her husband Philip Cargill Watt of Thomasville; 7 grandchildren, Katherine Page Harper and her husband, Jamison Blake Harper, Thomas Williams Parker, Jr., and his wife, Jordan Weber Parker, Justin Harris Parker, Christopher Cargill Watt, Parker Vance Watt, Katlyn Ann Parker, and Elijah John Kimball Parker; as well as by her great-grandchildren, Hazel Ally Harper, Emmy Rebecca Harper, and Thomas Williams Parker III.

A memorial service will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church on April 26th at 2pm with the Reverend Will Brown officiating, and the Reverend Paul Hancock, the Reverend Rick Buechner, Ram Singletary, and Dr. Doug McPherson assisting. Memorials may be made to All Saints Episcopal Church, The Archbold Foundation, or Brookwood School, all in Thomasville, Georgia.