Patricia “Parker” Washburn, a Greensboro business leader, animal lover, art collector, and quiet philanthropist peacefully passed away at her home with her husband by her side on Thursday January 18th, her 78th birthday.
A beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Parker is survived by her husband of 54 years, Artie Washburn, daughters Sarah (Clay) Davies of Atlanta Ga; Phoebe (A.J.) Bocchino of New York, NY and “light of her life” grandchildren, Cole, Logan, Irie, Mika, and Thais; her sister, Connie Wyrick, nephews Charles and Christopher, and dear friend, Frank Holder.
She was preceded in death by her father, Jackson Livengood Hooper (1950), her mother, Aileen “Mrs. Leon” Oldham (1994), and stepfather, Leon Oldham (1975).
Parker was born in Durham, North Carolina and raised on a family farm in Cherryville, North Carolina. She graduated from Meyer’s Park High School in 1964 and earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Guilford College in Greensboro. It was at Guilford where she met her husband, Arthur “Artie” Washburn.
After graduation, Parker and her husband, Artie, worked at Oakwood Friends School, a boarding school in Poughkeepsie, New York. She became Dean of Students, and he was a History and World Studies teacher. It was while at Oakwood that they became the young parents of Sarah and Phoebe. What soon followed was time spent in Nigeria, West Africa and Buffalo, New York.
Greatly admired for her business skill, Parker took over the management of Leon’s Beauty School and Salons in 1994 (that will soon celebrate its 75th year in operation) following her mother’s death. During her time at Leon’s, she supported employees stricken by HIV/Aids, fought climate change by partnering with Duke Power to build a solar grid on one of her buildings, and fought for immigrant rights by creating “safe zones” in her office; she never stopped fighting for justice.
Parker touched the lives of everyone who met her. Beginning at Oakwood as a recent college graduate and newlywed, and over the ensuing years, as a mother, grandmother, business owner, and philanthropist, she preached about being a decent human being, respecting others, caring for all people and animals, and accepting everyone as equal.
Most recently, Parker had become an avid bird watcher. During her daily walks, she collected feathers, which she cataloged and mailed off to her granddaughters. She was also known to work out in the early mornings with her personal trainer, who amazingly, but not surprisingly, taught her to box.
Parker will be remembered for her infectious laugh, sense of humor, generosity, strong sense of justice, and her deep love for her family, which included her pets.
The Washburn family is planning a Celebration of Life to be held at a later date. Online condolences may be offered at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com. In Parker's memory, memorial contributions may be made to one of the following charities:
SPCA of the Triad: https://www.triadspca.org/donate
Red Dog Farm: https://reddogfarm.com/donate/
Guilford College: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1833/interior.aspx?sid=1833&gid=2&pgid=418&cid=1063
Urban Ministries: https://funraise.org/give/Greensboro-Urban-Ministry/d79186a7-b7b0-4ec4-a2d1-fb098bf366c1/
Triad health Project: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E362389&id=1
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