WILLIAM EDWARD "ED" PARKER

William Edward Parker, age 82, of Iron City, passed away on Monday, July 23, 2018 at the Southeast Alabama Medical Center. He will be greatly missed by his wife, children and many friends of the community. Ed was born on January 5, 1936 in Atlanta to William W. Parker and Ruby D. Parker Skelton.  Ed grew up in East Atlanta and attended Murphy High School, where he met and married Mary Ann Conn shortly after her graduation. They began their married life in Atlanta, where Ed worked for the City of Atlanta Fire Department. They moved to Athens, while Ed attended UGA and later moved to Arlington while Ed worked as a manager of the Greenfield Plantation. In 1966, they relocated to Iron City so Ed could work at Greene Poultry Company, but Ed soon changed careers to the Life Insurance industry and as a Rural Letter Carrier. He was a founding member of the Iron City Fire Department and served as Fire Chief for several years. Ed had many hobbies such as hunting, fishing and tinkering on cars. He attended New Enterprise Freewill Baptist Church and was an active member of Three Squares Men’s Group for many years. Ed was preceded in death by both parents; two brothers, Randy Parker and Terry Parker; and a grandson, J.W. Parker. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Ann; sons, Wyatt Parker (Tina), Dr. Jim Parker and Wendell Parker (India Howard), daughter, Lisa (Charlie); grandchildren, Margo Donaldson (Steve), Cameron Gray (Haley), Chris Gray, Amber Black (Michael), Mary, Jesse and Mike Parker; great granddaughter, Savannah Gray; brothers, Lamar, Alvin (Cathy), Mike, Anthoney (Sandra), Barry (Nancy); sisters, Francis McCullough, Diane Johnston (Leon), Madren King (Earl), Sheila Taylor, Debbie Perkins (Paul) and numerous extended family members. The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 1:00 PM at the chapel of Evans-Skipper Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 2:00 PM at the funeral home with Rev. Tony Mock and Rev. Joe Tatum officiating.   Interment will follow in Friendship Memorial Gardens with Ronnie Ingram, Alan Ingram, Steve Amerison, Mac Harrison, Roger Aligood, and Wes Dozier serving as active casketbearers.  Members of the Iron City Volunteer Fire Dept. and the Donalsonville Fire Dept., as well as Lanny Williams, will serve as honorary casketbearers.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International PO Box 140800 Nashville, TN 37214.