Marvin Sanford Parker, Jr.

Marvin Sanford Parker, Jr., known to the world as Butch, was born October 1st, 1942 in Columbus, Georgia to Marvin Sanford Parker, Sr. and Sarah Francis Parker. Butch was raised by his grandmother, Emma Riley, in Decatur, Georgia. His siblings were Yvonne, Tim, Marie, Ricky, Rosalyn and Elizabeth. Butch spent time in and around Atlanta as a youngster and in later years prided himself in being an original Atlanta Native and knowledgeable about the history of the quickly growing city.

He graduated from Druid Hills High School in Decatur. He married Sara Lee in the early 60’s and soon after joined the Marine Corps. He had two daughters Kathleen and Tracie during military service. Butch was deployed to Vietnam for two years and served five more years in various roles stateside. While in the Corps, he was awarded both the Presidential Unit Citation and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Palm and Frame, among others. After military service, Butch worked for his father in law in Avondale estates east of Decatur before starting a career in logistics with Brown Trucking. After the death of his first wife, Sarah, he went on to work the rest of his career with AAA Cooper where he made many lifetime friends along with those he had already made. It was at AAA where he met his second wife, Connie.

Butch’s lifelong love of motorcycle riding was one of the defining details of his life. While riding, Butch met many of his friends. He was the quintessential rider that was defined by he and his generation. Butch complained that the “Captain America” type was ruining riding culture but he was never in danger of ever being categorized that way. He was original, authentic. He listened to reason but made his own decision. He didn’t have time for jokers trying to cause trouble. His favorite celebrity was John Wayne. But let me tell you, John Wayne didn’t have anything on Butch.

Butch was funny,

Butch was tough,

Butch was a serious individual,

Butch was an alpha.

Butch also had a spiritual side. He attended meetings of the Jackson congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses and had studied the bible with friend and fellow Vietnam veteran, Gordon Wilson. He then began to grow his relationship with Jehovah and held the hope that the bible promises for the end of sickness and death. He enjoyed the things he learned and tried to tell as many people he could about them and how happy it made him. He believed those promises were the solution to mankind’s problems and prayed for them to be fulfilled.

Butch is survived by his wife Connie, Siblings: Yvonne, Tim, Marie, Rosalyn, Sara and Elizabeth, Children: Kathleen and Tracie, children of wife Connie who he loved; Mitchell, Nicholas and Jessica, Grandchildren: Michael, Savannah, Parker, Kassy, Lyndsey, Nicholas and Dallas. There were also several great-grandchildren: Brandon, Aliyah, Jasmine, AJ, Kara and Easton.