Dr., Rev. Charles Brand Parker Jr.

(September 15, 1936 – May 14, 2026)

Reverend Doctor Charles Brand Parker, Jr., of Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on May 14, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.

Born in Washington, D.C., Charles was the oldest of seven children. Growing up just a few blocks from the Capitol, he was deeply involved in Metropolitan Baptist Church on Capitol Hill, where his strong faith foundation helped shape his lifelong calling to ministry and service.

Charles met the love of his life, Grace, and the two married in 1959, beginning a beautiful union that lasted over 66 years. Together, they exemplified what it meant to love faithfully through every season of life. Early in their marriage, they packed all of their worldly belongings into a small trailer, with a cat famously riding between the car and trailer hitch, and headed south so Charles could attend seminary. Charles’s first church was First Baptist Church of Lumberton, NC.

Their journey eventually led them to Raleigh, North Carolina, serving churches including Poplar Creek and later Page Road Baptist Church, where Charles became known not only for his thoughtful ministry, but also for his commanding presence and unmistakable voice. He later faithfully served as chaplain of Meredith College, where his wisdom, encouragement, and compassion touched countless students and families.

Raleigh also revealed another side of Charles- his love for the arts and stage. His powerful voice and animated stage presence made him unforgettable in productions with Raleigh Little Theatre, including lead roles in The Music Man, Tartuffe, Summer and Smoke, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The King and I, and Trojan Women. Whether in church sanctuaries or theater halls, people admired him for his strong, commanding voice and poignant message.

A lifelong learner, Charles pursued an extraordinary academic journey, earning degrees from Mars Hill University, George Washington University, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and North Carolina State University. His studies included a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Divinity, Master of Theology, and Doctorate of Education- all reflecting his lifelong commitment to scholarship, leadership, faith, and helping others grow.

Charles combined faith, education, and entrepreneurship in meaningful and lasting ways. He founded Resource Associates and Training Resources, Inc., an organization devoted to workforce development and vocational training that helped farm workers across eastern North Carolina learn valuable skills and secure meaningful employment opportunities. He had an uncanny ability to see deeper purpose in people’s lives and often recognized potential long before others could see it themselves.

In 1972, Charles planted his first Christmas trees in Wilkes County, beginning what would become a lifelong passion and a three-generation family tradition. The early years on the primitive mountain farm came with plenty of hard lessons, determination, and perseverance, but Charles loved every challenge that came with building something meaningful from the ground up. His work later expanded through his Christmas tree retail operations of 40+ years on Falls of Neuse Road, where generations of Raleigh families created treasured holiday memories together. Charles often said, “We are not in the Christmas tree business; we are in the memory-making business,” a reflection of the deeper joy he found in bringing families together during the holiday season.

Charles also loved restoring historic homes in Raleigh’s Historic Oakwood neighborhood, preserving the beauty and character of the city he loved. He was known as a perfectionist when it came to craftsmanship, especially when it came to things being level and plumb, even when the old houses themselves were anything but straight. He often connected those lessons back to faith, speaking about how our lives, like construction, are ultimately measured by what is true, level, and plumb.

An avid long-distance runner, Charles could often be found completing his daily four-mile runs, always finishing with a powerful final sprint. That final kick became symbolic of the way he lived his life -with determination, strength, endurance, and purpose all the way “through” the finish line.

Above all, Charles was a loving and devoted family man. He is survived by his beloved wife, Grace; his sons, Christopher and Shannon (wife Chandra); and his cherished grandchildren, Harrison James, Thomas Brooks (wife Natalie), and Christine Grace Shearer (husband Zach). He is also survived by his sister, Trish Miller (husband Doug), and brother, Steve Parker (wife Lynda).

Charles was predeceased by his father, Charles Brand Parker, Sr.; mother, Annie L. Parker; brothers, George and James (“Jamo”) Parker; and sisters, Velma Trimmer and Laurie Reber.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on May 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 99 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603. We invite all who knew and loved Charles to join us in honoring his memory.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Charles’s memory to Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.