IN THE CARE OF
Radney Funeral Home - Mobile
Terry Arlen Parker Sr. passed from this life into the arms of our loving savior on May 10, 2022. He was 88 years old. He was a resident of Glen Rose Nursing and Rehabilitation in Glen Rose Texas for the last 6 months of his life.
He is survived by his daughter Lisa Parker Miller, son-in-law Rex Miller of Glen Rose, his son Arlen Parker, daughter-in-law Jessica Vickery Parker of Mobile, seven grandchildren Hannah Parker Corbit, Christina Parker Mayo, Grant Parker, Olivia Parker Rinker, Michelle Miller Savage, Nathan Miller and Tyler Miller. And ten great grandchildren. He is also survived by his older brother Lavanace Parker and wife Sybil Jackson Parker. And 13 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Fred Daniel Parker, Ava D Parker, sister Gonolia Parker Chancellor, and his wife of 63 years Martha Charlotte Ballard Parker.
Terry was born March 16, 1934 in Stonewall, Mississippi. He was raised by loving Christian parents and attended the First Baptist Church of Stonewall where he was baptized. At a later time in life he devoted his whole life to Christ and became a lay pastor at Bay View Heights Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama and then became a full time minister. It was at Bay View that he was filled with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. He loved talking about Jesus and would talk to anyone anywhere about Jesus and he led many people to Christ. He said it was the Baptism of the Spirit that filled him with boldness, as he shared "if you believe the words of Jesus and commit your life to Him you will have eternal life after you die and a more abundant internal life now"
On August 28, 1952 he married Charlotte Ballard. One year later he joined the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. His first child, Lisa was born in Shreveport while he was in active duty at Barksdale Air Force Base. When he was honorably discharged, he and Charlotte moved to Denham Springs and they attended the Don Avenue Baptist Church and were active in leading Sunday School there. Arlen was born there. The company he worked for closed and they moved to Stonewall for two years, then to Mobile. They lived seven years in Jackson, MS leading a church in the Covenant Church Movement, and returned to Mobile where they lived until Charlotte's death in 2017.
After Charlotte died he lived with his daughter Lisa in Texas for five years, then a nursing home for six months.
Terry loved to tell the stories about his childhood, growing up without plumbing and electricity, about hikes with his dog who would run ahead of him and kill snakes on the trail. About carrying two buckets of water every day to his grandmother from the common well in their neighborhood. He played football and basketball in high school. When he moved to Mobile he purchased a business, a Gulf service station franchise. He worked there until the company demanded that he had to keep the business open on Sunday. He refused and they took the franchise away. He truly lived his beliefs even when it cost him dearly. After losing the business, he worked for Southern Fastener and over time became more and more active in ministry at Bay View Heights Baptist where the Holy Spirit was moving in power. He then became a full time associate pastor there. He followed his pastor Charles Simpson into teaching on a more committed Christian life and led a church of about 300 families in Mobile. He has many close lifelong friends from his years in ministry there. He then moved to Jackson and helped establish a church group there. And then back to Mobile where they continued encouraging people there.
He is still dearly loved and will live long in our hearts. His smile and greeting and humor would light up a room and I have to think he is lighting up heaven now.
Charlotte taught Bible classes for several years at Home of Grace. Instead of flowers for the funeral would you consider sending a donation to: Home of Grace, 394 Aldock Rd. Eight Mile, AL 36613
March 16, 1934 – May 10, 2022
Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home, 3155 Dauphin Street, Mobile, AL. Funeral Service will be held in the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home at 1:00 p.m.
