Gardenia Susan Parker, affectionately known as Tootie, was born August 19, 1947 to Mrs. Ethel Hampton Parker in Rimini, SC, Clarendon County. Gardenia departed this life April 29, 2019 at Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ. Gardenia graduated from Scott’s Branch High School in Summerton, SC. She went on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Bloomfield College and a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Development from Kean University.
Gardenia retired from AT&T after for more than 20 years. She became a beloved Special Education Teacher at Dr. Antonia Pantoja School No. 27 in Elizabeth, NJ. As a teacher, she will be remembered for her unwavering dedication to her students.
Gardenia is survived by her mother, Mrs. Ethel Parke; 3 sons, Brodus, Baldwin, and Darnell; 4 sisters, Lelia Barlow, Ethel Barnes, Reverend Theola Parker, and Geneva Mitchell (Ray); 2 brothers, Charlie Parker and Lendell Parker, and her grandchildren.
Visitation services will be held Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at McCracken Funeral Home, 1500 Morris Ave., Union, NJ, 3-5 pm and 7-9 pm. Funeral services will be held in South Carolina. Local arrangements by Anderson Funeral Service.
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