SALEM, MA – John Byron Parker, PhD, MD, ME, died Saturday, April 14, 2012. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 22, 2012 at Christ Episcopal Church, Macon, GA with the Rev. Harriette Simmons and the Rev. Victor Frederiksen officiating
Dr. Parker, son of the late Edgar William Parker and Grayce H. Dudley Parker, was born in Farmland, IN and grew up in the Quaker Community. From the age of thirteen thru his college years at Ball State University, Muncie, IN, by invitation, he played the violin, First Chair, with the Muncie Symphony. During his college, he played coronet with a dance band on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings found him playing violin at his church. After his graduation from Ball State University, he attended Florida State University, Chattahoochee, FL, earning his MTASCP. Dr. Parker attended the University of Florida before graduating in 1956 from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA and served a rotating internship at Stuart Circle Hospital. Dr. Parker was in private practice in Versailles, IN from 1957 – 1967 and in Emergency Medicine at St. Francis Medical from 1967 – 1973, serving as co-founder and charter member of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Dr. Parker was named Physician of the Year by St. Francis Health Center, Beach Grove, IN in 1973. He completed his residency as Chief Resident in Anatomical & Clinical Pathology at Methodist Hospital of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN in 1978, then Fellowship at Surgical Pathology-Electromicroscopy at Baylor University, 1979, and Fellowship in Forensic Sciences at Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences, Dallas, TX in 1989. Dr. Parker, PhD, MD, ME and Diplomate, served on the Boards of ACFE, ACFM, and FACFE.
After moving to Georgia, Dr. Parker served as instructor at Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta and at Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon. He served as Chief Medical Examiner for Bibb County from 1990 – 1999 and, in 2000, was presented the Award of Appreciation by the State of Georgia Coroner’s Association. While in Macon, Dr. Parker was a member of Christ Episcopal Church.
Returning to Massachusetts in 2006, Dr. Parker remained a Board Certified Forensic Pathologist for the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Boston, MA until his death. He loved medicine and all that it entailed, serving his profession with honesty and thoughtful consideration. Dr. Parker had practiced medicine for fifty-six years.
Survivors include his wife of forty-two years, Beulah “Boo” Graham Parker of Salem, MA; his daughters, Janette Kay Parker of Richmond, VA, Elizabeth Noel Parker Cash of Bremerton, WA and Nancy Ann Ellis of Grand Prairie, TX; his granddaughter, Ava Rose Cash, Bremerton, WA
Dr. Parker will be missed by his dear friends, Fred Jordan, MD of West Poland, ME, Jimmy Fain of Macon, GA, Peter Cummings, MD of Marbelehead, MA Chief Henry Neilds, PhD, MD of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Boston, MA and all colleagues with whom he worked.
Visit www.snowsmacon.com to express condolences.
Snow’s Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Services, Pio Nono Avenue has charge of arrangements.
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