Thomas Hackney Parker, Sr.

Tommy was born in Wilson, NC on May 29, 1942. He graduated from Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, Virginia, June 3, 1961. While at VES he was a valuable member of the football and track teams. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 1965. While attending UNC, he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and the Minotaur Club.

Tommy married Linda Gay Williams of Ozark, Alabama on February 11, 1966. Together they raised three children: Linda Gay Parker, Thomas Hackney Parker, Jr., and Susannah Lucinda Parker. The Parkers lived in Warsaw, North Carolina for many years where they were members of the Warsaw United Methodist Church. Tommy performed various duties in the Warsaw United Methodist Church, including serving on the financial committee for many years.

In February 2009, Tommy and Linda moved to Wilmington, North Carolina where he resided at the time of his death.

Throughout his life Tommy was an entrepreneur and dedicated businessman. For several years he worked in B.F. Williams Construction Company, his father-in-law’s highway construction company in Ozark, Alabama. Later, he established Atlantic Limestone, Inc., a limestone mine in Rose Hill, North Carolina. Then, in 1983, he founded Parker Bark Company, Inc. of Rose Hill, North Carolina. He continued as President of Parker Bark Company, Inc. until his death. Tommy was active in the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association, as well as other organizations in the industry.

Tommy was preceded in death by his parents Josephus Derward Parker , Sr.and Helen Hodges Hackney Parker of Elm City and Wilson, North Carolina and a brother, Josephus Derward Parker , Jr. of Wilson, North Carolina.

He is survived by his wife Linda Williams Parker of Wilmington, North Carolina; his children Gay Parker Stanley, wife to James Roy Stanley, III of Goldsboro, North Carolina; Thomas Hackney Parker, Jr., husband to Jennifer Ray Parker of Wilmington, North Carolina; and Susannah Lucinda Parker of Wilmington, North Carolina; his granddaughters Catherine Parker Stanley and Lillian Isabel Stanley of Goldsboro, North Carolina; his sister Mary Wright Parker Pittman of Wilson, North Carolina; his brother Alton Person Parker, husband to Michelle Bratton Parker of Wilmington, North Carolina; his brother Derward Hodges Parker of Kinston, North Carolina; and his sister Sarah Helen Parker, wife to Robert Thomas Seavy of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Visitation will be held at Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Service in Wilmington, North Carolina from 10:30am to 11:30am on Thursday December 13, 2012.

A graveside service will follow at 12:00pm at Oleander Memorial Gardens in Wilmington, North Carolina.

The Staff of Coble Ward – Smith Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Thomas “Tommy” Hackney Parker, Sr.