Dr. Michael Parker Sr.

Michael Wayne Parker was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on September 28, 1947, to Sara Williams Parker and Benjamin Wayne Parker. In 1970 his first child, Heather Barr Parker, was born, which initiated one of his favorite roles in life: being an attentive, involved father. After graduating from Auburn University with BS and MS degrees, Mike, a member of ROTC, joined the U.S. Army. With the Vietnam War raging, Mike was assigned to the U. S Army hospital in Nuremburg, Germany. During those years in Europe, Mike became an avid reader, in search of what really mattered in life. Upon returning home to Birmingham, Mike had an encounter with God that changed him for the rest of his life.

Now a committed Christian, Mike continued his professional journey as a PhD. candidate at the University of Alabama. In 1977 he married Lane Knudsen Parker, with whom he had three more children: Sarah Isabelle Parker, Michael Wayne Parker, Jr., and Franklin Knudsen Parker. A member of the Army Reserves, Mike was asked to accept a position as an active duty “reserve status” officer at Fort Riley, Kansas. Some of the happiest years of his family’s life were spent in Manhattan, Kansas, where life-long friendships were established.

The Lord then called Mike to make a turning point decision in his life: join the “regular army” and move to Monterey, California. In his next assignment to Heidelberg, Germany, Mike served at the U.S. Army Medical Headquarters in Europe, 7th MEDCOM. After directing the army’s alcohol and drug program in Europe for three years (and showing his children all the wonders of Europe and Scandinavia), he received a National Institute of Aging Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Michigan in the department of aging, where he earned a post-doctorate in Geriatrics. Life in Ann Arbor was COLD, but exciting. His last military assignment was to Anniston, Alabama, where Mike served as Chief of the Behavioral Science Division at Noble Army Community Hospital at Fort McClellan before retiring from a 20-year military career as Lt. Colonel. Those 20 years, though fraught with challenging orders and assignments, were some of Mike’s happiest, as a husband, father, patriotic soldier, and Christian.

After much prayer, Mike, always the consummate teacher to his military cohorts, church, and children, received orders from the Lord to accept a position at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in the School of Social Work, where he distinguished himself, particularly in the area of aging. In 2013 he spent three months on Sabbatical at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Over his 20 years at the U. of A., Mike continually fought to advance the elderly agenda and to make his Lord known as well as one can at a public university. He was selected as a scholar and subsequently as a national mentor for the prestigious John A. Hartford Foundation and Gerontological Society of America. Mike was an active researcher who authored or co-authored more than 100 academic papers and reports. An excellent teacher, Mike consistently received high reviews from his students who counted him as one of their most influential teachers. He retired in 2019 as professor emeritus.

But for this energetic, passionate soldier, there would be no real retirement from life. He co-authored with centenarian James Houston two books to support the aging Christian: A Vision for the Aging Church and A Vision for the Aging Christian. Joining with colleagues throughout the nation, Mike established the James Houston Center for Faith and Successful Aging to support churches in their ministry to older adults. In 2023, the Center launched AgeReady, an interactive website that helps older adults and their families prepare for the challenges and joys of aging.

In his papers found after he died, Mike had made a list of those things he loved most to do: reading, exercising, music, and, listed as #1, being with and having fun with his five grandchildren. “Papa” tried, more than anything else, to direct them toward Jesus, as well as being silly and quirky with them, too!

A firm believer in the integral role of spirituality in aging successfully, Mike walked courageously down his own personal struggle with Parkinson’s disease for five years before succumbing to that dreaded disease. Yet, he was a firm believer in the Lord’s direction in our lives. Just as his own son, Mike, Jr. fought quadriplegia for 20 years, so Mike, Sr. battled on, in spite of the physical limitations that Parkinson’s imposes. As His Word says, “All things work for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.” This was a dedicated, focused soldier for the Lord who only took his life’s orders from on High. His final salute was to no man, but to God Himself. Well done, good and faithful servant!

Mike is survived by his wife, Isabelle Lane Knudsen Parker, daughters Heather Barr Summerford (Robert), Sarah Isabelle Parker Silko (Chris), son Franklin Knudsen Parker, granddaughters Shelby Taylor Roberts, Annie Lane Silko, Mary Aubrey Silko, Adele Marshall Silko, grandson Judson Dixon Roberts, sister Linda Sue Johnson, and a host of other loving relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 1:00 P.M. at First Presbyterian Church, 900 Greensboro Avenue Tuscaloosa, Al 35401. The family will receive friends from 12:00 P.M. to 12:45 P.M at the church. Burial with military honors will follow the service at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, Al.

To honor Mike’s memory, a fund has been established to support family caregivers of individuals with long-term care needs. To contribute, mail checks to the Parker Fund, James Houston Center for Faith and Successful Aging, 1678 Montgomery Hwy, Suite 104 #337, Birmingham, AL 35216 or click on jameshoustoncenter.com.