Betty Jo Parker

 Reflections & Memories

Mother Betty Jo Parker, age 85, of 624 Broad St., Gaffney, SC was called home on Monday August 12, 2019. She was born May 26, 1934 in Gaffney, South Carolina to Rueben and Hattie Dukes. She was united in marriage to her friend and love, William Parker Sr, on October 24, 1953 who preceded her in death in 1994.

Mother Parker was a dedicated mother. She treasured her children and grandchildren and loved every moment with them.
She was a woman of many talents, one which included her joy of cooking and serving others. She was a mother to many and a friend to all.

Mother Parker worked as the Dietary Supervisor at Cherokee County Memorial Hospital where she retired after 43 years of service.

She was one of the first members of True Holiness Church which later was renamed True Holiness Church of the Living God. She was very instrumental in overseeing the construction of the church as it stands today. During her early years, she served as the president of the Usher Board, president of the Senior Choir, Chairman for the Building committee and served as the church mother. “Big Mama”, as she was affectionately called, loved her church family.

Her favorite word to encourage herself was, Father I stretch my hands to thee, no other help I know, her testimony was Can’t nobody do you like Jesus, and one of her favorite songs was “If you know the Lord is keeping you, what you got to worry about.

She was preceded in death by her sons: Waldorf, Christopher, and William Jr., brother: Freeman Herbert; sisters: Annette Balkcom, Catherine Houey, and Brenda Phillips.

Left to cherish and celebrate her memory are sons: Joe Logan and Frederick Parker, Gaffney, SC; daughter: Toinette Parker-Turner, Columbus, OH; grandsons reared in the home: Jimmy Parker, Gaffney, SC; Rueben Richardson, Spartanburg, SC; and Dock Parker, Columbus, OH; Sisters: Deacon Geraldine Edwards, New York City, Mary Dukes, Spartanburg, Patricia Houey, Moore, SC, Janice Littlejohn and Jannie Webb, Spartanburg, SC; adopted daughter, Minister Kathy Fullenwider, Spartanburg; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, nieces/nephews, cousins, friends, and a special friend, Ms. Eula Thomas.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special thanks to the medical staff of the Greenville Memorial Hospital/Prisma System and to everyone for their prayers, words of comfort, and all you did during this time.

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