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Brian E. Parker lit a candle
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
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Brian E. Parker posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
What a great day to be alive. Here on earth and in Heaven above! Praise God!
June 25, Friday, Dad inherited his eternal reward. Today is one of those days where Heaven meets earth. And when I look at you all right now I see the fabric that helped make up the Life of the Man I love.
And so I have been dreaming a lot lately, dreaming that I can make it all right. And with your help today I might be able to get it right and bring it all together. But we need to know God has already done the seemingly impossible, He did this for all of us. Let me explain more...
* If today had headlines I'm sure my Dad would want it to read, Parker Family Comes Together. (Dad loved Al's Pig Pickins... the last time we were in Roxobel he said, "Brian, just look at that. Right over there is a cornfield, over here is a cornfield, and right over there are soybean. Growing up it was just like this Brian. We had our own world right all to ourselves and no one to bother us. He said, Son, this is the best living life can offer."
Let me tell you a story from early on, my Dad and I were driving along 581 one day and we caught up with a Father and his Family with a flat tire on the side of the road. The Man was a disabled Veteran. The two Veterans talked for a few while I changed the tire. Dad asked the Man about his life, including his Family, and invited them over for dinner. We made Friends that day.
Dad was a great Lion with a big heart. As is probably evident by now, I am a huge admirer of my Dad. From 12 or 13 I felt something very special with my Dad. I was in love with my Dad. I always will be, and he was very selfless and loving with me, as all of you need to know he loves you with all of his heart too.
Maybe Dad's name was inked in the paper, recorded a deed somewhere, possibly elected, signed a check or two, stood at a podium, but never ever was it more important in his Life than for Dad to choose God to be Lord of his Life, and have his name written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Know Dad's name is indelibly read there before God our Father and His angels now.
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Dad died Alive. He loved being overwhelmed with the privilege and bounty of being with all of you, HIS Family and Friends doing what WE love doing.
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For Renee and I, all of us, Dad was always on the sidelines and in the stands and audience cheering on his children and grandchildren every time there was anything going on! Right now, I am remembering his gait striding to a ball field to watch me play when I was 12, once I laid eyes on him I felt better inside. Dad was there, always there for us. And Dad always made my Bride Jennie feel important and part of our Family. He was always loving, inviting and supporting of us. We are Family.
Coming in here today I stopped at the door and turned around and looked at the mountains, I could feel my Dad in the breeze blowing through my hair.
* * * Do you feel God here today? I do. I sure hope you do too. God loves you all so much. * * *
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Dad called himself a "Bucket Man...
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When needed Dad was completely a leader, and he knew how to build a strong and united team. He treated people the way he expected them to treat each other, and he made sure that they knew he would always have their back.
For me the result is I walk through walls for him. Dad is a BIG part of me, but the real honor is him pulling me close to him. He let me inside. And his passion inspires me and makes great things happen all around. He has IT.
I am an abstract thinker, my Dad not so much but we understood each other very well. Life with my Dad is like a beautiful symphony. Love, really special love sometimes just cannot be described.
Work was important to my Dad, and I think his resume was too formidable for mere mortals. He loved growing up Roxobel, I say it like that because Roxobel is not just a place, it is an action verb. Born in Bertie County my Dad learned the right way to live. Dad use to say, You can take the boy out of Roxobel but you cannot take Roxobel out of the boy. And he never deterred. Roxobel is home, home style America.
Oh, my Dad wanted me to make sure I tell you this joke... he says Roxobel is so small his dog standing in the middle of the post office would not be able to wag its tail side to side but would have to wag it up and down. Now that's small! (And Dad would just grin). He liked telling that one.
At 16, or 15, Dad forged a relationship that would last a lifetime. In Norfolk he met Mr. J.R. Gregory, they eventually became business partners and Friends for Life. Mr. Gregory used to say Dad was a Man in a young boy's body. He believed in my Dad and eventually gave him an opportunity of a lifetime. Dad made good on it. Mr. Gregory, for example, and his other partners would elevate Dad based on their complete confidence and sheer respect, a victory for anyone well-served and in a larger sense, a victory for a bigger cause. After they retired they vacationed together... how beautiful Life is when it comes full circle!
* If today had headlines it would be just one word, Abundance.
Truly if it did not involve his Family it really was not that big of a deal in the grand scheme. - know nothing compared to Dad's Family. Day one Dad instilled in us we can rise as far as our talent, our capacities, our dreams, and as far as our hard work and discipline will carry us. (A did it! So does C! And Ad! You make Dad so happy. You are the flowers in his hair.)
Dad could not be moved by any threat or attempting promise to depart from what he felt was right. He had a code instilled by his Mom & Dad, Charlie & Minnie; and Brothers JC & Hubert, and Seldon & Sisters Doris and Lois; honed by army tradition, and nurtured by almost a century of Family loving. Dad was 3 up and 2 down. He was a hammer and nail Man, he hit it hard and true, precise. - Throwing a sledge hammer until late. World's best painter, but not fast enough to make any money he was told... Dad always wanted it to look beautiful so he got it right the first time. And world's greatest Craftsman... Dad also was guided by a conscience that never slipped. He was True Grit.
Dad used to say, Remember where you came from. And when you come back home, you're not leaving yet are you?, bring your good name with you. And never forget I love you. - I have not forgotten that, and your door has always been open to me, Dad. Thank you for letting me in your Life.
At High's Ice Cream some people would come to meetings with a laser pointer and a lot of other stuff, while Dad would just bring a yellow pad and a pin to meetings. He was sharp and on the ball. He never missed his mark. He had it all upstairs, he had a mental inventory of everything that mattered, really strong with numbers and calculations. And he was Lombardi time. Dad never used a 50 cent word when a nickel one would do.
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Dad recycled everything...
Why, Dad even had socks 50 years old!…
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Growing up Dad loved Westerns. On Saturdays Dad would hitch-hike to town with 25 cents in his pocket. <10 cents for a movie, 5 cents for a coke, and 5 cents for popcorn (he had 5 cents left over to keep)>. As he got older, before he got to that ticket window he would stoop down to apppear younger. That same lady would say, "You don't have to do that I am still only going to charge you 10 cents." so he would kinda giggle and smile, and stand up straight again. She would say, Go on in and get your popcorn.
Westerns, men and women in all walks of life trying to do the right thing. All of them, in their own ways, heroes. Everyday The Rifleman had to fight for his life. In Dodge City U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon had a shootout in the middle of the street with bank robbers and sometimes to defend the honor of Miss Kitty. In the Big Valley there was always work to do. And at dinner time the Cartwrights always ended up around the dinner table together cracking jokes and celebrating Family. In the Virginian James Drury used to say, You see a wrong you fight it, if you don't you become part of it. Sometimes there is even a Bible story or two, maybe about Job. Dad used to say, Family and neighbors mean everything in a person's life. Growing up Dad was always was visiting his Family and neighbors. He loves his Family and childhood memories. That's home town America to Dad - that is what the Parker's mean to him. Dad and I loved watching Westerns together. The good guys always win... the Father & Son adventures too. We loved the music too... I can hear it playing like a symphony right now. There's music playing in Heaven right now too. And it moves me to emotion. Yep, you gotta love a Western.
* If today had headlines they would read, From Tears To A Smile...
Dad always remembered where he came from. No one ever talked to my Dad for more than about 5 minutes before the word Roxobel came up. 'Where?' they would ask, and that is where the stories began. To Dad his name and heritage really was everything. He was true love. 1 Cor 13
Dad used to say we all need to treat people with a little bit more kindness than we think they deserve, because we do not know what is going on in their lives.
As my Dad told me and I tell Charlie & Abigail, to be a great leader you have to first be a great follower.
A principled freethinker, Dad was a man of ideas, but he was not ideological. He was constantly listening, learning, adapting. He could admit mistakes. It was just another example of his integrity. He was decent, honest and truthful, a Southern Gentleman. And he was my best Friend. He was my Man!
And he was always thankful you gave your time to him and said, Hello. He loved being with you all and you made him feel warm and loved and grounded. He basted in your honesty and shared ideals. Your stories. "How is Life for you?" He was at home with you and, please, never doubt your place in his Life. You are worthy. You made him feel worthy. You made him feel important, you were part of his identity. You really are priceless and God knows it too.
(Dad, it's been 93.97 years for us, and I'm finished in just a few more short minutes) How can that be? So today is a sad day for us here, but a really happy day in Heaven. Gosh, I am really going to miss you, Dad, and that is very selfish to say. I do know though you are finally home. And I am happy about that. It is where you need to be.
I thank God for you, Dad, for His Mercy and Grace and Passion and Understanding and Forgiveness. You understand God loves you, Jesus paid the ultimate price for our Sins. He saves us from ourselves, you know. He knew your name all along before you were even born in that little farmhouse way down that dirt road in hot, hot July. Roxobel truly is Salt Of The Earth People. What a great way to start living.
You have gone from the Great Depression to riches in Heaven. That is a Life well lived Dad. In Heaven today there is nothing for The Greatest Craftsman to fix but knowing as much as you love your Family you are enjoying the best Family reunion ever. We will carry on here just as you would want it.
* If today had headlines they should say God is great all the time...
God has mercy on our souls. He loves us so much He sent His only begotten Son into this world to show us how to lives our Lives right. They would say, All the time God is great. They would say it is time to get to know God better and take Him up on His word... to answer to our higher calling... The Lord of our Life.
If you think c is tough know God Almighty is tougher…
Dad, I want to do well for you today Sir. Very well. For the last 8 months you let me lead. I think we did pretty good. God won you, another special one for His Kingdom for all of eternity! What an honor and privilege it has been. Know I will be seeing you. And every time I look up at the moon I will be thinking of you.
God bless everyone, Jennie and I and our entire Family thank you, and my Dad loves all of you very much, please know in your hearts you are very dear to him and are lovingly woven into his entire Life, living Roxobel, and thank you, God, for everything! It’s time to go back to work... It is time to "Strike the tent."
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Elizabeth Barnett posted a symbolic gesture
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
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We first meet Charlie back in March of 2016 when we rented the house we still live in & he was the best landlord anyone could've known! I can remember the day he came over & started painting the front of the house & my husband helped him...they both had some good conversations & jokes!! Best of all Charlie had a beautiful smile that could light up a room & I can truly say he touched our hearts!! Ours hearts & prayers goes out too his son Brian & his family! Mr. Parker as I use to call him, before he told me...now Elizabeth you can just call me Charlie...will truly be missed by us!!
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Axel Oberg posted a condolence
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Charlie and I have been friends for over 30 years. Our connection was golf. For the last 20 plus years, we rode together on several golf trips to the Pinehurst area and also Myrtle Beach. I loved to listen to his stories while we traveled. He was a great man and a great friend. I will truly miss him very much as will all of our golfing friends. May God be with him and his family at this time of sorrow. I look forward to the day when I will see him again. Axel Oberg
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Martha Parker uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, June 25, 2022
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Brothers together again! We will always love and miss you! -Al, Martha and Abby
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The family of Charlie Robert Parker, Jr. uploaded a photo
Saturday, June 25, 2022
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