Charles Clinton Parker, Jr.

Charles Clinton Parker Jr., 86, of Asheville went home to be with the Lord on May 25, 2019. A native of Asheville born in 1932, Charles grew up hunting and fishing in the mountains. He quit school in the 9th grade to start earning a living. Charles was retired at the time of his death but worked into his late 70s in a number of jobs. He worked at the VA Hospital, and as a roofer and sheet metal worker as well as a newspaper carrier for the Asheville Citizen-Times, the News-Record & Sentinel, IWANNA and the Weaverville Tribune. Drafted in 1953, he was a veteran of the US Army where he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the United States Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Charles served in Korea right as the Korean Conflict ended. He was honorably discharged from the service in 1955 as a private first class after two years of service. Charles also answered the call to preach becoming a Baptist minister. He preached the Gospel in small churches all over the mountains as a fill-in and supply pastor. Charles’ longest ministry was to prisoners in the Hazelwood Correction Center in Haywood County and Buncombe County Correctional Facility in Buncombe County where he preached and was a prisoner sponsor for over 40 years. Charles was preceded in death by his father, Charles Clinton Parker Sr of Canton and his mother, Henrietta Jane Pell Parker of Cashiers. Also by his sisters: Patricia Pell Parker Nizamian of San Diego, California, Marion Rochelle Parker Warren of Asheville and his brothers: Gerald Lee Parker of Candler and Reginald McQueen Parker of Asheville. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Freeda Patricia Walker Parker of Emma and his only son, Charles Clinton Parker III and his wife Dereama Ann Hall Parker of Marshall. He is also survived by three grandchildren: Taylor Thomas Parker of Winston-Salem, Morgan Elizabeth Parker Herman and her husband Casey Herman of Marshall and Reagan Levi Parker of Marshall. He also is survived by numerous nephews and nieces as well as great nephews and nieces. Anders-Rice of Asheville is helping the family with the funeral which is being held at their chapel on Patton Ave. on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 with visitation at 1 pm and the service at 2 pm. His body will be laid to rest at Green Hill Cemetery directly after the service where it will await resurrection at the coming of the Lord.