Dorothy Eugenia Walters Parker, a native and lifelong resident of Mobile, Alabama, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by loved ones on Friday evening, November 10, 2023. She was 79 years old, born on December 23, 1943, to parents Dorothy Eloise Johnson and Samuel William Walters, Sr. She was a proud graduate of Baker High School, class of 1961, where she was chosen class beauty in her freshman, sophomore, and senior years. In 1962, she married Roy Edward Parker, marking the beginning of a lifelong partnership filled with love and shared endeavors. Early in her adult life, she made significant contributions to Providence Hospital, where she worked in various roles including secretary and staffing clerk in the Nursing Services Department, a clerk in the Medical Records Department, and secretary to the Personnel Director. After the birth of her two daughters, she played a crucial role in her husband's business. She brought her talents as a bookkeeper, interior decorator, and landscape designer. Her natural creative talent was further expressed through her work in floral merchandising, where she worked part-time at Cleveland the Florist, and as a wedding decorator. Eugenia’s artistic vision was also evident in her role as Church Decorator at First Assembly of God in Mobile from 1987 until 1990. Her passion for history and heritage led her to take courses in Family History and Genealogical Research at the University of South Alabama and Samford University. As the columnist of “Climbing the Family Tree” in the Mobile Press Register, she shared her genealogical expertise and enthusiasm for many years. Her dedication to historical preservation and research was reflected in her active involvement with several heritage organizations. She was a devoted member of the Mobile Genealogical Society, the National and Alabama Societies Daughters of the American Revolution, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century. In her profound commitment to the preservation of history and the promotion of patriotic values, she also served for many years as a senior officer of the Mobile Bay Society Children of the American Revolution. Through her dedication, she worked tirelessly to instill a deep appreciation for patriotism, heritage, and leadership in her children and grandchildren. Eugenia’s efforts ensured that the younger generations understood the significance of their ancestors' roles in shaping the nation, encouraging them to uphold these traditions with pride and honor. Her legacy in this realm is a tapestry of living history, passed down through stories, records, and the very example she set. Eugenia believed that the future stewards of our history begin with the values taught in the present. Her unwavering dedication to this cause has left an indelible mark on her family and the community, fostering a continued passion for historical knowledge and civic responsibility.
Eugenia also proudly carried a personal rich and storied heritage, being a descendant of notable historical figures who played significant roles in the early colonization of the Gulf Coast. She was a twelfth generation great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Jean Baptiste Baudreau dit Graveline (1671-1762), a French-Canadian explorer and soldier who served under Pierre Lemoyne d'Iberville during the colonization of the Gulf Coast in 1699. Jean Baptiste Baudreau dit Graveline was also one of the original settlers of Old Mobile (Twenty-Seven Mile Bluff) in 1702. In addition to this illustrious lineage, Eugenia was also a ninth generation great-great-great-granddaughter of Joseph Bosarge (1733-1794), the founder of Bayou La Batre, AL, and a tenth generation great-great-great-granddaughter of Pierre Laurendine (1698-1768), another early inhabitant of Mobile. These ancestral ties to early American history and exploration were a source of immense pride and identity for Eugenia, connecting her to a legacy of bravery, exploration, and pioneering spirit.
Eugenia was preceded in death by a loving and devoted family. This includes her father, Samuel William Walters, Sr. (Sam), and her mother, Dorothy Eloise Johnson Walters; her nephew, Fred Flavius Pierce, Jr. (Bear); her sister, Susan Belle Walters Schottgen, her grandparents, Osie Bell Miller and Maurice Joseph Johnson, as well as Catherine Motley and Samuel Sylvester Walters.
Eugenia’s legacy lives on through a cherished and loving family. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Roy Edward Parker, her two daughters, Tracy Yvette Parker (Terry) Pitts and Christy Michelle Parker (Sean) Hennessey; three grandchildren, Haley Nicole Davidson, Taylor Victoria Pitts, and Nicholas Christopher Davidson; two great-grandchildren, Wyatt Knox Davidson and Parker Lee Gibbons; her brother, Samuel William “Billy” (Roxy) Walters; her nieces, Leslie Antoinette Walters (Lee) Wilson, Samantha Eugenia Walters (Webb) Travis, and Felicia Suzanne Pierce Derby; and her uncle, Maurice Jackson (Jack) Johnson.
Eugenia's life was one marked by a passion for history and patriotism, a flair for creativity, and a deep commitment to her family and community. She leaves behind a legacy of love, dedication, and service that will forever be cherished and remembered by all who knew her.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 17, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. from the chapel of Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street. The family will receive friends at the funeral home beginning at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens.
