Joel Thomas Parker

Joel was born on September 7th, 1997 in Houston, TX to William Paul Parker II and Stephanie Alayne Parker. Joel was raised in Morgan Hill, CA where he attended Canyon Heights Academy from PK to 8th grade. He spent two years at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, CA before moving to Cumming, GA and graduating from Pinecrest Academy in 2016. At Pinecrest Academy, Joel ran cross country, lettering in 2014 and serving as Varsity and Team Captain in 2015-2016. Joel was a member of the National Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, and was an AP Scholar. He was also selected to be a participant at the prestigious Georgia Boys State where he was elected to the senate. Joel spent hundreds of hours volunteering for both his school and community, coordinating and organizing the first blood drive for Pinecrest Academy, and even earning a varsity letter in soccer due to his long hours volunteering as their timekeeper and running the press box.

Joel went on to pursue his undergraduate studies at American University in Washington, D.C. where he was in the Honors Program in the School of Public Affairs. As a freshman, Joel interned with the U.S. House of Representatives under Representative Anna Eshoo in 2016-2017 and interned with Mayor Kevin Faulconer of San Diego during the summer of 2017. During his time at American University, Joel authored a policy analysis on American infrastructure investment mechanisms that currently serves as a college-level model, and was submitted to a former governor to be forwarded to the largest manufacturers lobby in the country, the National Association of Manufacturers.

Joel had an innate intellectual curiosity and unquenchable desire to learn. He was an avid reader of history, philosophy, and literature, with a passion for beautiful and rare books. Joel was known for his incredibly quick and dry wit, his vibrant personality, and his ability to put others before himself. Joel was a gentle soul and will be greatly missed by everyone who loved him.

Joel is survived by his mother, Stephanie A. Parker; his stepdad Paul J. Thiel; his brothers, Joshua Parker and Noah Parker; his sister, Catherine Grace Parker; his grandmother, Frances L. Shirley; his grandfather, William Paul Parker; his aunts, uncles, and cousins; and his girlfriend, Maria Reverte.

Joel is predeceased by his father, William Paul Parker II, his grandfather, Clifford M. Shirley, and grandmother Barbara A. Parker.

A visitation for Joel will be held Thursday, February 23, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Forest Park - The Woodlands Funeral Home, 18000 Interstate 45 S, The Woodlands, TX 77384. A funeral service will occur Friday, February 24, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 7801 Bay Branch Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77382.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestparkthewoodlands.com for the Parker family.