James "Jim" Carl Parker

James Carl Parker was born on December 17, 1940 in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. Jim was raised in the Gulf Coast region and spent most of his youth in Fairhope, Alabama.

In 1958, he enrolled at the University of Alabama where he was a member of Chi Phi Fraternity and the Million Dollar Band. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, Jim served his country as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army where he was stationed in Arizona, Oklahoma, and South Korea.

Upon completion of active duty in 1964, Jim "saw the light", as his wife would later say, and enrolled at Auburn University to become an Architect. He was sponsored by the national chapter of Chi Phi Fraternity to found the Mu Delta Chapter, located at Auburn University. As an architecture student he was eventually drawn to his first love of history where he met his greatest love, best friend, and wife of 48 years, Carese Brown McConnell.

After completing his Master of Arts degree in History in 1968, Jim became one of the first minority instructors and faculty members at Alabama State University, a historically black university in Montgomery, Alabama. Jim was proud of this accomplishment, and he was equally proud to instill respect for all fellow mankind in his sons.

On May 17th, 1969, he married his loving wife, Carese, at Liberty Hall in Cross Bridges, Tennessee. An endlessly devoted and caring husband, for Valentine's Day this year he gave his wife the same yellow and orange roses that she carried on their wedding day, so many years ago.
In 1972, Jim and Carese welcomed their first son, Stewart. Jim was one of the first fathers allowed in the delivery room in Davidson County. He described that event as the most "euphoric" moment of his life!

In 1974, while studying post graduate work at Vanderbilt University, Jim answered an advertisement in the Sunday paper and began to work for Ingram Industries in Nashville, Tennessee. A successful businessman from start to finish, he began as a warehouse worker, and he retired in 2002 as a Senior Executive Vice President. Jim's responsibilities included selecting the publications that would become the best retail sellers in the world. He was also instrumental in the creation of books on tape/audio books that became a precursor to Amazon and the podcasts we enjoy today. He was especially proud to have been integral to the culture and company fabric that made Ingram such a wonderful place to work. He had the highest respect and admiration for Bronson and Martha Ingram as well as their entire family.

In 1986, Jim moved his family to Columbia, Tennessee. He wanted a strong community to raise his family, and he volunteered to make it an even better place. Jim contributed his time, talent, and resources to Columbia and Maury County by serving on the Rippavilla Board of Directors, Maury County Public Library Board, Boy Scout Troop 114 leadership, and as a lay leader in his church.

Upon his retirement Jim and his wife chose to invest themselves in the small community of South Thomaston, Maine. During this time, he helped rebuild a struggling church, became a Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow, served as a docent for the Olson Home at the Farnsworth Center, and even spent time as the Chief Financial Officer for a great bunch of lobstermen!

Loved and respected by both of his sons, Jim was proud of the men they became, and he was honored to serve as the Best Man in each of their weddings. He had great love and admiration for his daughters-in-law Sara and Kristin, whom he introduced to everyone as, simply, his daughters. However, the moments that brought him his greatest smiles were times spent with his grandchildren, as he would share that he was especially blessed that he met and loved all five of them.

Jim Parker was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, Best Friend to Mack Holt, Boyfriend to Gayle Linville, Veteran, Auburn Man, Mainer, Maury Countian, Rotarian, Methodist, president of the Bruce Strother Sunday School Class, and most importantly a follower of Jesus Christ.

Left behind to remember Jim are his wife: Carese Parker of Columbia; children: Stewart James (Sara) Parker and Andrew Merrell (Kristin) Parker both of Columbia; grandchildren: Morgan Grace Parker, Brace Rand Amit Parker, Jackson Merrell Parker, Ryan Malcom Parker and Caroline Haley Parker; beloved third son: Andrew Houston (Brittany) Legg; grandchildren: Ameila Marie Legg and Houston Garner Legg; siblings: Julia Parker (Jack) Post of Simsbury, CT and Morgan Merrell Parker, Jr. of Manchester, CT.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Jim will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Columbia, Tennessee with Rev. Chip Hunter officiating. Military honors will be provided by the United States Army Honor Guard. The family will visit with friends at Williams Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 15, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. as well as one hour before the memorial service.

Active pallbearers will be John Sansone, Michael A. Zibart, Malcolm H. Holt, Dr. Thomas R. White, Mark D. Linville, James D. Sproul, Archie Stalcup, Eric K. Previti, Dr. Gibran B. Naddy, H. Grady Lance and Drury M. Puckett, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Bruce Strother Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to People’s United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 83, South Thomaston, ME 04858 or to The People’s Table C/O First United Methodist Church, 222 W. 7th Street, Columbia, TN 38401.

Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements and online condolences may be made to the family at www.williamsfh.com .