Joseph LeRoy Parker, Jr., 82, died on Friday, April 4th, at his residence in Thomasville, Georgia. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, April 8th at 11am at the family plot on Carolina Street in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Thomasville, Georgia. The Reverend Ronnie Wills, the Reverend Bob Dixon and the Reverend Burns Willis of the First United Methodist Church will officiate.
Joe was born in Jackson, Mississippi on January 21, 1932, to his parents Eula Parker Parker and Joseph LeRoy Parker, Sr. He moved to Thomasville, his mother’s hometown, as a small baby, and lived there until he and his parents moved to Lynchburg, Virginia. He lived in Lynchburg for a short time before moving back to Thomasville in 1940.
After moving back to Thomasville, Joe attended the Thomasville City Schools and graduated from Thomasville High School in 1950. He attended the Virginia Military Institute, then transferred to Florida State University and graduated from FSU in 1954 with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
He served in the United States Army, completed Officer Training School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 21st Infantry Regiment of the 24th Division. He was stationed in South Korea, was promoted to First Lieutenant and honorably discharged in 1957. He returned to Thomasville and joined The Searcy Agency, a local independent insurance agency. Later in his career he worked for Sing Oil Company, as CFO and Corporate Secretary. One of his duties was managing investments for Sing Oil’s profit sharing retirement plan. In 1982, to provide investment management services to other retirement plans and individuals, he formed his own firm, Joseph Parker & Company, Inc., Thomasville’s first SEC registered investment advisor.
Joe was a member of First United Methodist Church where he served on the Administrative Board. He was a member of Glen Arven Country Club and served on its Board of Trustees. Joe was also on the Brookwood School Board of Directors and served as the Treasurer for many years.
Joe was preceded in death by his daughter, Laura Parker Thompson. He is survived by Frances Gravely Parker, his devoted wife of 53 years, a son, John Mark Parker and his wife, Carson, all of Thomasville, a daughter, Julia Parker Cook and her husband, Sean, of Johns Creek, Georgia and his son-in-law, Richard L. Thompson, of Atlanta, Georgia. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: William Richard Thompson and Benjamin Smarr Thompson, Atlanta; Hannah Elizabeth Cook, Bryce Patrick Cook and Lucy Caroline Cook, Johns Creek; Jackson Stevens Harris, Gunnison, Colorado; Walker Howard Harris, Joseph Dallas Parker and Andrew McCarson Parker, Thomasville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either Thomasville First United Methodist Church, the Thomas County Food Bank Building Fund, the Lawson Neel Med Bank, Brookwood School or a charity of your choice. Guests may sign the online register at www.allenfh.com .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph Leroy Parker Jr., please visit our flower store.
Joe was born in Jackson, Mississippi on January 21, 1932, to his parents Eula Parker Parker and Joseph LeRoy Parker, Sr. He moved to Thomasville, his mother’s hometown, as a small baby, and lived there until he and his parents moved to Lynchburg, Virginia. He lived in Lynchburg for a short time before moving back to Thomasville in 1940.
After moving back to Thomasville, Joe attended the Thomasville City Schools and graduated from Thomasville High School in 1950. He attended the Virginia Military Institute, then transferred to Florida State University and graduated from FSU in 1954 with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
He served in the United States Army, completed Officer Training School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 21st Infantry Regiment of the 24th Division. He was stationed in South Korea, was promoted to First Lieutenant and honorably discharged in 1957. He returned to Thomasville and joined The Searcy Agency, a local independent insurance agency. Later in his career he worked for Sing Oil Company, as CFO and Corporate Secretary. One of his duties was managing investments for Sing Oil’s profit sharing retirement plan. In 1982, to provide investment management services to other retirement plans and individuals, he formed his own firm, Joseph Parker & Company, Inc., Thomasville’s first SEC registered investment advisor.
Joe was a member of First United Methodist Church where he served on the Administrative Board. He was a member of Glen Arven Country Club and served on its Board of Trustees. Joe was also on the Brookwood School Board of Directors and served as the Treasurer for many years.
Joe was preceded in death by his daughter, Laura Parker Thompson. He is survived by Frances Gravely Parker, his devoted wife of 53 years, a son, John Mark Parker and his wife, Carson, all of Thomasville, a daughter, Julia Parker Cook and her husband, Sean, of Johns Creek, Georgia and his son-in-law, Richard L. Thompson, of Atlanta, Georgia. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: William Richard Thompson and Benjamin Smarr Thompson, Atlanta; Hannah Elizabeth Cook, Bryce Patrick Cook and Lucy Caroline Cook, Johns Creek; Jackson Stevens Harris, Gunnison, Colorado; Walker Howard Harris, Joseph Dallas Parker and Andrew McCarson Parker, Thomasville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either Thomasville First United Methodist Church, the Thomas County Food Bank Building Fund, the Lawson Neel Med Bank, Brookwood School or a charity of your choice. Guests may sign the online register at www.allenfh.com .
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