Glenda Anne Parker

Glenda Anne Smith Parker, 86, passed away peacefully Tuesday, September 9, surrounded by her loved ones. Glenda was born in Cartersville, Georgia on September 4, 1939, to James Franklin Smith and Glenna Mae Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband Arthur C. Parker, Jr. and her parents.

She is survived by her four children: Suzie Parker Devoe (Joe) of Beaufort, South Carolina; Art Parker (Nell) of Charlotte, North Carolina; Barry Parker of Cartersville, Georgia and Kevin Parker (Mary) of Cartersville, Georgia; and by six grandchildren: Parker Devoe, of Wilmington, North Carolina; Barron Devoe, of Portland, Oregon, Mary Grace Parker, of New York, New York; Margaret Parker of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Suzie Parker of Birmingham, Alabama and Collier Parker of Cartersville, Georgia; and her brother, Jim Smith (Candy) of Cartersville, Georgia.

Glenda enjoyed being an active member of the Cartersville community. She graduated from Cartersville High School in 1958 and was elected to the Cartersville City Schools Board of Education several times, serving in the late-1980s and early-1990s. She also worked as a paraprofessional for the Cartersville Elementary School for several years. For many years she enjoyed owning and operating Anna’s Attic, a local gift store, while also working as a real estate agent at Century 21. She was a director at Georgia Southern Transportation and sang in the choir of Sam Jones Methodist Church for many years.

Glenda possessed an engaging personality and an insightful sense of humor that attracted many friends. She enjoyed conversing with family and friends about local politics and global current events. Disabled by severe rheumatoid arthritis, her interest in the world and people around her allowed her to cope with the significant limitations of her physical condition. She enjoyed drawing, sketching and other creative pursuits. Her love and compassion for animals was inspirational to all who knew her. She was a devoted and caring mother and grandmother who delighted in updates on the activities of her children and grandchildren.

The family will greet friends at 1:00PM on Friday, September 12, 2025, in the Family Life Center at Sam Jones Methodist Church. A Celebration of Life will be held afterwards at 3:00PM in the church sanctuary with Rev. Lathem Postell officiating. A private family graveside service will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Glenda’s personal caregivers, the nurses at Transitions Hospice Care and the staff at Manor Lake for the care and attention they provided Glenda over the past several months.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in Glenda’s memory to Sam Jones Methodist Church or the Arthritis National Research Foundation at https://curearthritis.org/donate/.