Obituary of James Franklin Parker

WEAVERVILLE – James Franklin Parker, lifelong resident of Reems Creek Valley, Weaverville, died peacefully May 9^th, 2021. 

Mr. Parker was the husband of his beloved Lucy (Lucille Walton Parker) until her death in March 2017. James and Lucy were together every step of the way. James was born November 10, 1930 in Weaverville, NC.  He was the son of James Buel Parker and Carrie White Parker, the brother of Charles, Edgar, Harry Lee, Carroll and Lucille Parker Lee, all of whom predeceased him.

Mr. Parker is survived by his three sons, Ron, Darrell and Avery Parker; his three daughters by marriage, Trudy, Kathy and Mary; a granddaughter, Arianna Grace; and two grandsons, Sam and James. The birth and daily visits of grandsons James and Sam with their Granddad brought so much joy to him.

James served as his Weaverville High School Senior class president in 1950.  After graduation from Weaverville High School, James served in the US Army in Austria as an MP following WWII. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Reems Creek and married his childhood sweetheart, Lucy. Mr. Parker was employed for decades in sales and management with Glidden and SCM/Glidden with his last position as WNC District Manager.

After retiring from SCM/Glidden, Mr. Parker continued to serve Buncombe County as head of Administration for the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department. He served from 1990 thru 1992.

James served Reems Creek, Weaverville, Buncombe County and WNC in many different roles including those at Pleasant Grove Union Church in Weaverville, Pleasant Grove Community Club, WNC Lions Clubs and through Free Masonry. James was a lifetime Red Cross blood doner. His lifetime of giving has touched the lives of so many.

At Pleasant Grove Union Church, he served as Superintendent of the Sunday School, and was Trustee of both the Pleasant Grove Union Church and the church cemetery. James served as President of the Pleasant Grove/ Reems Creek Community Club and volunteered with the 4H Club and Weaverville Boy Scout Troop #15.

In WNC, District 31A, James chaired Lions Club broom sales, Lions Club candy sales and was District Director of the Humanitarian/White Cane Program. He was awarded Lion of the Year in 1985, Asheville, NC. He was District Governor and Member of NC Lions’ Council of Governors in 1991-1992. Mr. Parker was honored as a Jack Stickley Fellow and a Melvin Jones Fellow for dedicated humanitarian services. James and his wife Lucille represented NC at Lions Club International meetings, traveling to Hong Kong, Montreal, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Mr. Parker was a longtime Member and Past Master of Blackmer Lodge in Weaverville and the Scottish Rite in Asheville. In 1985, he was coroneted as Thirty-Third Degree (33°) Scottish Rite Mason. James completed his duties as Almoner of the Asheville Lodge in 1996.

The family will receive friends at the Chapel of West Funeral Home from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM, on Thursday, May 13th, 2021 followed by his funeral service at 11:00 AM, Thursday, May 13th, 2021, also in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Avenue, Weaverville, with the Reverend Jerry Jamerson officiating.

Per the NC Governor, masks are required inside the building. Those who choose may park in the West Funeral Home parking lot, tune their car radio to FM 87.7 and listen to the service from their vehicle. 

In addition to Thursday's visitation and service, family and friends are invited to pay their respects and sign Mr. Parker's guestbook from 1PM until 4PM on Wednesday, May 12th, 2021 at West Funeral Home.

James will be buried beside Lucy in the Pleasant Grove Union Church Cemetery, Weaverville NC, surrounded by generations of our Reems Creek family and friends and beside the rock church built in 1940 as a replacement for the 1880 wooden structure. The masonry and stonework was completed by James’ father, Buel Parker. Buel Parker’s assistant was his then ten-year-old son James Franklin, whose job was to carry the stones destined for the church to his Dad, Buel, to then place and lay the stones.  http://www.pleasantgroveunionchurch.org/history/

For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Mr. Parker's obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com