Rebecca Rhea Farthing Parker

Rebecca Rhea Farthing Parker was born on October 24, 1958, in Homestead, Florida, to Rhea and Florence Farthing. A woman of deep faith, Beckie loved and worshiped Jesus from her teenage years. She lived her life in loud proclamation of what Jesus did for her until her last hallelujah. She passed peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Athens, Georgia after a long fight with Lymphoma.

She grew up playing the flute and piccolo in the band as an important part of her high school life and continued in the Wind Ensemble through college.Her high school marching band had many highlights including a trip to Hawaii and Washington DC and playing in the Orange Bowl parade every year. She continued to play in the orchestra at Watauga Christian Center. As a teenager, her family took a trip around the Pacific that was her first exposure to a much larger world, other cultures and nations. As a high school senior, she went to Europe on a biking trip through Spinning Spokes that had a strong impact on her both in character and in Christian discipleship.

She was a strong mother and loving wife, who dedicated her life to raising and educating her five children. She loved her family and was inseparable from her husband of 45 years, Danny Parker. They met in Boone, North Carolina at Appalachian State University and were married in 1980 just after graduating from ASU. She always said that she grew up with her children. The five children were born in seven years so they were stair steps. They all grew up spending a good bit of time in their minivan. They moved to Marietta in 1990 and started a chapter in the buzz of the suburbs of Atlanta. She loved spontaneous encounters, especially with members of her church and homeschooling community. She made her first trip to Israel in 2000 and it deeply impacted her life and ultimately traveled there four times. She and Danny moved to Athens, Georgia in 2023 where she lived until her passing.

She was keenly interested in health and nutrition and pursued the latest findings all her adult life. She was always looking for ways to eat healthy and stay active. When she moved to Athens, her and Danny walked into the sunrise every morning as part of their daily routine.

Her legacy of faith and love will live on in the hearts of her family and all who knew her. A teacher by training, she applied her trade to homeschooling her children and gave them many varied experiences. Her skills as an elementary school teacher and woman of faith enabled them to delve into Bible verses and other subjects with great enthusiasm. She spent almost three years in Grasse, France when Danny was on an R&D assignment. The family really benefited from that cross-cultural experience and all went to international schools and associated with other students from all over the world. They all ultimately pursued higher education thanks to their deep love of learning which has been such a blessing to cheer on and celebrate.

Both Beckie and Danny loved to minister to their family, dear friends, and numerous ministry partners over the years. She was a “prayer warrior,” and especially loved to stand in the gap for those in a difficult spot. Recently she also became involved in seeing revival and reformation in the nation. She deeply loved the Scriptures from the Bible, and that was her true north orientation. She loved hospitality and enjoyed being with friends and family around food and long conversations. Throughout her life and until her last hours with her family, she would worship the Lord in song and intercession.

Beckie was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Rhea and Florence (Messick) Farthing. She is survived by her loving husband, Danny Parker, her sister and brother-in-law, Beth and Michael Rogers, her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sarah and Donald Howell. Together they have three nieces and three nephews all of whom were a joy and blessing to her. The immediate family includes Joel and Ifat Wald Parker (Ari, Eitan, and Elianna), Sharon and Andrew Nackashi (Genevieve and Annabelle), Brian and Jennifer Parker (Graham), Neal and Deborah Parker (Amelia, Claire, Emma, and Lydia), David Parker (Dmitri, Damon, Eleanor, and Emmanuelle Singletary-Parker) and his partner Shelby Markeles.

A visitation for immediate family will be held on Tuesday, June 16, at 12:30 p.m., at Bernstein Funeral Home, 3195 Atlanta Highway, Athens, GA 30606, with a graveside service for family and friends at 2:00 p.m., at Evergreen Memorial Park, 3655 Atlanta Highway, Athens, GA 30606. A reception for family and friends will follow the service at 890 Brock Road, Athens, GA 30607. In honor of Beckie’s love for color, guests are encouraged to attend this event in bright colors if they desire.

A memorial service will also be held in July at a time and place to be determined.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.