Born in Iredell County on May 31, 1934, he was the son of the late William J. Parks and Rettie Mitchell Parks.
J. C. was a well-respected member of Statesville, Iredell County and surrounding areas. He loved his family and enjoyed being a servant to others, fulfilling the Great Commission given to him from the Lord. He loved to visit with people whether at home, hospital, nursing homes, etc. where he enjoyed to make them smile, laugh and always had a song to sing before he would leave them.
He worked for Southern Screw Company for 18 ½ years, was on the staff at Southview Baptist Church for 32 years, serving 12 of those years as the Senior Pastor, retiring in 2004 and he served numerous families as a Funeral Assistant for 8 years with Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home. Even after his retirement from serving as Pastor, he continued to preach and minister anytime and anywhere he was called upon. He was a veteran of the United States Navy.
He loved to hunt, fish, garden and play golf with his buddies.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Cheryl Parks Wooten; two brothers, Dean Parks and Bill Parks; three sisters, Pauline Gregory, Mary Billings and Mozelle Mahaffey.
Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 57 years, Frances Souther Parks; one son, Rev. John C. Parks, Jr. and wife Pam; son-in-law, Steve Wooten; six grandchildren, Max Wooten (Shannon), Justin Parks (Karena), Luke Wooten (Jayne), Jared Parks (Hannah), Caleb Wooten and Jonna Horne (Jarod); five great-grandchildren, Mallory, Jackson and Keegan Wooten, Connor Wooten and Landen Horne; one brother, Vance Parks (Wanda), three sisters, Betty Campbell (Jay), Sue Davis and Rovena Eidson; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The family will receive friends Sunday evening, July 5, 2015 at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
The service celebrating J.C’s life will be held Monday, July 6, 2015 at 2:00 PM at Hebron Baptist Church with Rev. John C. Parks, Jr, Rev. Tom Blackburn and Rev. Tony Bunton officiating. Burial will follow the service at Iredell Memorial Gardens.
Serving as pallbearers will be his grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers will be J. C.’s golf buddies and their wives and his many Pastor friends.
Memorial donations may be made to Gideon’s International P.O. Box 148 Statesville, NC 28687 or to Elder Care, Inc. 248 Davie Ave. Statesville, NC 28677.
Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of our friend and colleague, Rev. J. C. Parks, Sr.
The following is a final quote that J. C. told his family and wanted to share with everyone – “Don’t think of me as departing, but arriving. “
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