Mr. James Odie Parker, Jr.

Daddy, Pops, Odie, Rev, J.O., Little Odie, Uncle Odie, Pop-Pop, Grandpa Parker, and Balldaddy are just a few of the names that the Rev. James O. Parker, Jr. answered to when called. While he can no longer hear us, those of us who knew and loved him will never forget and smile when we remember our name for him. The Rev. James Odie Parker, Jr., 74, passed away Monday, February 8, 2010 at Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, VA. While he was born in Nansemond County, VA, Rev. Parker grew up in Newport News. He was preceded in death by his parents, James O. Parker, Sr. and Flossie Manley Parker, his brothers Hilton Ray Parker and Leroy Parker, sister, Flossie Westina Calhoun, one nephew, Kelvin Dale Calhoun and two sons, Daniel Scott Parker and Patrick Lee Parker. Rev. Parker was the last surviving member of the Parker Four Quartet, a gospel singing group made up of Ray, Leroy (Plick), Odie, Sr., and Little Odie, as he was known in the family. While he was trained by his father to sing base, he always fantasized that he was a falsetto. The three boys traveled with their father to churches throughout the Tidewater region and beyond sometimes accompanied by their sister who played piano. At the ripe old age of seventeen, Rev. Parker, anxious to get his life “started”, joined the U.S. Air Force. Over the next five years he would serve duty stations in France, Germany, and Korea. He delighted in sharing the few French and German words he remembered with his children. It was at his last station, Hamilton Air Force Base, CA, where he accepted a call to join the ministry. Over the next fifty-two years he worked diligently to serve the Lord first as pastor of First Morning Star Baptist Church in Bena, VA and later as pastor of Little Zion Baptist Church in Williamsburg. In recent years, he served as an evangelist taking every opportunity to bring the Word to church congregations in Virginia and North Carolina. After leaving the military in 1957, Rev. Parker returned to Newport News where he worked in the Newport News Shipyard, retiring in 1995. He was also the owner of Hop’s Taxi # 7 which he continued to drive until shortly before his death. He is survived by his loving wife of twenty-three years, Sallie Parker and three children, daughter, Jody Lynn Allen (Anthony), James O. Parker, III (Brenda), and Walter Carl Parker, Sr. (Tishawna) and two beloved stepchildren, Tracy Parker and Kenneth Parker. Rev. Parker was the grandfather of eleven: Brittney, Marquis, Tiffany, James, IV; Jody, CJ, Nick, Shawnta, Shakina, William, Zaria and, one great-grandson, Teiji; and several nieces and nephews including Jason Calhoun, Donnell Calhoun, Sherry Calhoun, Kassandra Walker, Dellareese Frazier, and Adrian Parker, Paul Adams, Tobin Adams and a host of friends and family. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 13th at 12 Noon at First Baptist Church, Jefferson Park in Newport News. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Viewing will be held from 12 noon until 6:00pm on Friday, February 12th at the M.E. Fisher Funeral Home.

Mr. James Odie Parker, Jr.

September 8, 1935 - February 8, 2010