RITA PARKER

Rita Colleen Colley Prater Parker passed away December 10, 2020 at her residence. A memorial Service was held on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020 at First Baptist Church Donalsonville. She was born to Ferris and Florine Copley Colley on May 14, 1945. Her mother passed away when Rita was 3 weeks old. Rita was the youngest of 13 children. She was adopted at the age of 4 by Hershel and Erma Jean Prater. She attended Shawnee School of Lima, Ohio. She also attended Ohio State University graduating with a major in social work. Later on after moving to Georgia, she was a student of Bainbridge State College. She was a certified nursing assistant and EMT. She had been employed by Indian Lake Nursing Home where she went back to Ohio State College and earned her activity director certificate. In Ohio, she was employed by Crown Equipment, Inc. and worked parttime for Remax Real Estate and the ABC Center of New Bremen, Ohio. In 2001, she came to Georgia to be a caretaker for her parents and was a member of Celebration Baptist Church-Faceville, GA. She also worked at Bainbridge Memorial Hospital and Miller County Nursing Home. She retired as director of Seminole County Senior Center of Donalsonville, GA. She is survived by five daughters, Elizabeth Stalnaker of Georgia, Terrie (Lowell) Chilcoat, Becky Koeper, and Susan (Doug) Debell all of Ohio, as well as Laura Beebe, who was her caretaker and always there for her during her cancer illness. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Trevor (Hope) Stalnaker, Tyler (Whitney) Stalnaker, Michael Beebe, Dustin Bradley, Daniel (Tesha) Bradley, Harmony (Tim) Downing, Austin Koeper, Cody Koeper, Trisha Inlow, James (Lindsey) Nichols, and Dallas Ambos; a sister, Bonnie Selby; a brother, Larry Dean Colley Sr.; and her special dedicated companion, Sparky. Mrs. Parker is also survived by 23 great grandchildren. Mrs. Parker was preceded in death by her father, Hershel Prater and mother, Erma Jean Prater; her siblings, Rose Chilvin, Ray Colley, Dale Colley, Ralph Colley, Bill Colley, Mike Colley, Sharon Johnson, Carol Nelson, and Loia Johnson; her husbands, Walker Bradley and Jerry Parker; a daughter, LaBonna Sunday; and a granddaughter, Melony Sunday.