Mr. Charlie Parker, a resident of Louisville, Alabama passed away Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was 91 years old.
Funeral services were held Friday, July 8, 2022 at 12:00 PM at Louisville Baptist Church in Louisville and burial followed in the Louisville City Cemetery. The Rev. Mike Whitman and Dr. Jay Reyes officiated with Glover Funeral Home of Clayton directing. The family received friends an hour prior to the service at the church.
Charlie was born February 26, 1931 in Virginia, the son of the late William Millard and Emma Funkhouser Parker. After completing school at Cumberland High School in Virginia, Charlie joined the United States Army in 1951 and was inducted at Fort Meade in Maryland. Completing his basic training at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, he rose to the rank of Master Sergeant and also served as a member of the Military Police. It was in this role as a Military Police Officer that Charlie found his way to Alabama, receiving orders to be stationed at Fort Rucker near Ozark, Alabama. He would serve honorably for two years in the United States Army and later served an additional six years in the National Guard.
While stationed in Fort Rucker, he found himself in Louisville on a calm sunny afternoon at the local post office and there he saw her for the first time. Her name was Georgia Canant. He would soon make her his wife and the two enjoyed a bond that would last for 67 years until her passing in 2019.
After leaving the Army, Charlie was self employed as a building contractor and later retired from the Board of Education. He will fondly be remembered as a gifted builder/craftsman. Many homes and business have enjoyed the results of his talents. Charlie was a long-time member of the Louisville Baptist Church where he served on the building and grounds committee and led in the renovation and enlargement of the church. He was also a member of the Masons and loved to golf.
Charlie was preceded in death by his wife, Georgia Kathryn Canant Parker; son, Charles Lowell “Bubba” Parker Jr.; eight brothers and sisters, William Oscar Parker, Hester Walton “Jack” Parker (Mae); Jesse Millard Parker (Margie), Elizabeth Marks (William), Mary Rowh (Keith), Helen Armstrong (John), Ruth Hamblin (Richard), and Florence Waid (Dale). Inlaws, Glenn Canant (Dorothy), Jean Baxter (Clyde), Buran Canant (Florence), and niece, Jelane Canant Price.
Charlie is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Larry Harrison, Clayton. Granddaughters, Leslie Reyes (Jay), Scottsboro, Aaron Adams (Kevin), Josie. Six great-grandchildren, Brian Adams (Jayden), Montgomery, Christian Reyes Odum (Drew), Chelsea, Georgia Adams, Josie, Rio Reyes, Auburn, Gannon Reyes, Troy, Parker Adams, Josie, and many nieces and nephews. Charlie would not want to leave out Lois Huff who he loved like a daughter and Jonathan Hernandez, who he loved like a grandson.
Asked to serve as pallbearers were Brian Adams, Parker Adams, Rio Reyes, Gannon Reyes, Drew Odum, and Jonathan Hernandez.
Special thanks to caregivers, Patsy Beasley McKinnon and Karla Cruz who loved “Mr. Charlie.”
In Lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in his honor to:
Barbour Baptist Association, P.O. Box 187 Clayton, AL 36016.
Glover Funeral Home of Clayton was entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 775-3403. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com.
