James Edward Parkin Sr.

James Edward Parkin, Sr., was born on September 25, 1926, the son and only child of Sam and Ethel Parkin of Little Rock, Arkansas. Jimmy was three years old when Sam and Ethel moved to Jackson and established their business, Parkin's West End Pharmacy. He graduated from Central High School in 1944 where he had been involved in various activities, including boxing and playing clarinet in the band. Upon graduating high school, he joined the Navy at age 17, where he served two years as a Seabee. He discharged with the rank of 2nd Class Carpenter's Mate when World War II ended.

He, like so many young men after the war, came home to enroll in college, choosing to attend Ole Miss and the School of Pharmacy. While enrolled at Ole Miss, he was an active member of Kappa Alpha Order, the Army ROTC - becoming a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry, and served as business manager of the "Ole Miss" (the school's yearbook) where he met Joan Humphreys. Jimmy and Joan were married on June 17, 1950 at Calvary Baptist Church.

Jimmy and Joan settled in Jackson where he followed in his father's footsteps as a pharmacist and businessman. He opened his own drugstore on Fortification Street, known as Parkin's Pharmacy, serving the Belhaven community and the City of Jackson for 47 years. He liked to say his goal was "to make Parkin's a special place where you were treated more like a friend than as a customer." His pharmacy was truly a full-service operation with a gift department, delivery service, a U.S. Post Office, and an old-fashioned soda fountain.

Jim Parkin, Sr. served on the University of Mississippi Pharmacy Alumni Association Board for ten years and held the position of President for two terms. He also served as President of the Mississippi Pharmacists Association. Additionally, he served as President of the State Board of Pharmacy for four years. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Jackson where he served faithfully as a Life Deacon, working on numerous committees over the years, and as a greeter. He was also a member of the Jackson Rotary Club until he retired. An avid horseman, he served on the Mississippi Walking Horse Association's Board of Directors as Vice President.

James E. Parkin, Sr. is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Joan Humphreys Parkin, now residing in Ridgeland; three sons, Jim, Jr. of Oxford, Cole (Charlotte) and Doug (Patsy), of Madison; one daughter, Beth (Joey) Shorter, of Covington, LA; and eight grandchildren.

Pallbearers will include grandsons Sam Parkin, Robert Parkin, Cole Shorter, Reid Shorter, Scott Parkin, Dalt Shorter and Hamp Shorter, and Whit Hawkins, husband of granddaughter Lauren. Honorary pallbearers are the members of the Explorer Men's Sunday school class at First Baptist Church.

Visitation will be on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home on High Street in downtown Jackson, and on Tuesday morning from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. in the Atrium at First Baptist Church in Jackson, followed by the memorial service in the Chapel at 11:00 a.m.

Memorials can be sent to First Baptist Church "Cookie Jar" fund, P. O. Box 250, Jackson, MS. 39205.