A BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT

On Sunday, November 25, 1928, the sun was shining, everyone was smiling and a beautiful spirit named Rosa was born the 2nd child of ten of the Reverend Thomas Wayman Parker, Sr. and Ida Mae Benion Parker. "And this child who was born on the Sabbath Day, was fair and wise and good in every way". Rosa was truly born a beautiful spirit. She was in awe of her Father and looked up to her mother. She was only 11 months younger than her older sister Tommie Lee. Her Father was a Pastor and her Mom had a beautiful singing voice. Her older sister had extraordinary gifts as a pianist. Rosa became a pianist too ...as did her subsequent to sister's, Julia and Joyce. Rosa played for her Father's Church- the 49th Street Baptist Church in East Birmingham (now the Parker Memorial Baptist Church) Her older sister played at churches all over Birmingham. Rosa later trained other children in the neighborhood in church performance and taught Sunday School. Rosa had been baptized and accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age. Later, while attending Parker High School (The Thundering Herd), Rosa and her friend Inez Andrews, who was trained in singing gospel by Rosa's mom, Ida Mae, formed a group with her sister Julia, and were accompanied on piano by her sister Tommie Lee. The 11th sibling, her cousin Cleopatra Parker (now, Goree) introduced them on stage and and their Father's friend, Mr. Turk was their manager. They were called the Parker Aggregation. They even had uniforms! And their theme song was "SHINE ON ME". Later, her friend Inez Andrews, became a professional gospel singer and her sister Tommie Lee continued to accompany her on her albums. Later, Rosa would go on to play piano for the St. Andrew Baptist Church under Reverend Pugh and teach Sunday School at the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church under Reverend Porter and Reverend Cantelow. The Word of God was very important to her. She NEVER began her day without reading His Word.

A BEAUTIFUL PATRIOT
While a student at Parker High, one of Rosa's teachers sent in an application for a job for her. And much to her surprise, she was soon off to work as a typist at the Pentagon in the mid 1940's during the Great War. One day, she went to the park at lunchtime and a man was giving a speech. That man was President Eisenhower. She proudly served her country during the war and later returned to Birmingham to prepare for the next great chapter in her life.

A BEAUTIFUL BIG BLUE SPIRIT
Rosa returned from Washington DC and had to make an important decision. Her father, Reverend Parker, taught his children (and anyone who would listen) that a college education was very important. He wanted his daughters to be educated most of all, so they would be fully armed for life and would be more prepared to stand on their own two feet should it become necessary. Rosa decided that there really was no choice to be made. There was only one college for her and that was the illustrious Tennessee State University. She loved the college so much that many of her siblings and cousins and students followed her there. While attending, Rosa dated Josh Grider. He walked her to class and carried her books. Later on in life, Josh became a Harlem Globetrotter. She graduated with a degree in Social Studies (History/Geography). She later got her Masters Degree in Curriculum and Supervision from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa where she played as child, as grandmother and great aunts and uncles owned houses across the street. A few years later she obtained her AA Certification from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

A BEAUTIFUL EDUCATOR
Her teaching career began in Livingston, AL in the 1950s. There, Rosa had many students that were older than she, because they had served their country and returned to college. After a few years, Rosa went to Muscoda Junior High School to teach...the first time in 1953 and the 2nd time in the 1960's. In between the two Muscoda affiliations she found herself teaching in Chicago, Illinois at ENGLEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. The reasons for the change in venue led to a beautiful event. Later, Rosa returned to Birmingham and taught again at a Muscoda Junior High and went on to be head of the history department at Ensley High School. Then in February of 1981, Rosa was asked to be the Principal of Dupuy Elementary School which was in her old neighborhood around the corner from the church that bore her father's name – the Parker Memorial Baptist Church. She remained there until her retirement. She truly loved all of her students. Among them was a former Alabama Supreme Court Justice, The Honorable Ralph Cook; a former Head of ABC News who went on to become a Supervising Producer of the Oprah Winfrey Show, Raymond Nun; the leader of the Tuscaloosa Freedom Riders, and comedian, Ricky Smiley.

A BEAUTIFUL BRIDE
On a beautiful day in Chicago, IL, Rosa's friends Elizabeth and Arnett took her to the beach on Lake Michigan and introduced her to one of Arnett's friends. Rosa always wanted to marry a military man. Enter George Hanks, the Parachute rigger in the Army who was stationed in the Philippines. The two met on the beach that day and fell madly for each other and corresponded and courted through letters. On Thanksgiving morning, November 23, 1961, Rosa and George were married by the Reverend Beauregard T King, Sr. The minister was late and said he was praying that the wedding didn't take place because he wanted Rosa to marry his own son, Beauregard King, Jr. (B.T.). That morning George gifted his bride with a lovely pair of kid leather gloves as a birthday and wedding present. The reception followed at the Ballard House near Parker High School.

A BEAUTIFUL BABY
Unfortunately for Rosa, there was no traveling with the military man, as he was just getting out of the Army as they married. They settled in Chicago and were happy and 2 1⁄2 years later, Rosa gave birth to a bouncy baby girl that's named after her husband and her bridge club – Georgette Bridget. She came back to Birmingham to give birth and sadly only 6 months later her marriage ended. But she returned to Chicago until the tragic death of her dad and ultimately returned to Birmingham to help care for her Mom and Grandmother, Chaney Willis...lovingly called "Fug".

A BEAUTIFUL WARRIOR
Birmingham was in the midst of change when Rosa returned and Rosa did not sit idly by during
that change. Her father's neighbor and friend was a man named W.C. Patton and he began the
Voter Registration Movement in her father's church, the 49th Street Baptist Church. Rosa
volunteered with the movement working with voter registration at the 45th Street Baptist Church,

while her brothers were hosed and jailed and her cousins became Freedom Riders. She would go to the AG Gaston Lounge to get updated strategies for the Movement when Dr. Martin Luther King came to discuss ideas with them. She also helped to transport civil rights workers who came from other states, assisting Mrs. Ruth Barefield Pennington with keeping the visiting workers safe. At the time of this activity in the movement, Rosa was pregnant with what would be her only child and her grandmother, "Fug" said, "You're gonna drap that young'un in the street!" Because she was committed to what was right and fair – a true democracy. She had taught and married those who had fought for their country and knew everyone should have the same voting rights. She was a warrior in this Movement.

A BEAUTIFUL SERVANT
While at the Big Blue of TSU, Rosa was drawn to an organization that was formed to be dedicated to service in her community. That organization was Delta Sigma Theta. It was there at TSU that she became affiliated. And she has worked so hard to be of service to the community through Delta Sigma Theta that DST chose to bestow their national award on her – the Fortitude Award. It was the perfect name – because Rosa was incredibly strong in mind, spirit, and dedication to a good cause. She was happy to lend a hand to anyone in need because that is what her father taught her and demonstrated as he hunted and fed his neighbors that were in need. Rosa adored him and always obeyed him. Delta Sigma Theta's initiatives were an extention of that teaching. Additionally, Rosa was of service to others in her own private mission of visiting the sick and shut-in who were in nursing home facilities. She took them treats that they couldn't get while inside like hot dogs, apple pies and gifts like devotional books and snap coats. Rosa performed her personal mission until the pandemic occurred in early 2020.

A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY
Born number two of ten children, Rosa truly loved her family. All of them have predeceased her in death except her beloved brother, James Parker; her uncle, Louis Benion, (Hilda); her aunt, Bernice; her daughter, Georgette Bridget Hanks; her nieces, Linda Clark; Brenda Parker; Jeanine Jones-Rankins; Yvonne Hasell; Kimberly Hasell; the Nephews: Kenny Walker; Thomas Wayman Parker, II; and Pierre Hasell and Malcolm Parker; along with great nieces and Nephews, cousins, and a loving church family and community of friends. Special mention to her God daughter, Nikki Witt, who walks with the same beautiful and positive spirit as Rosa. The Bridgettes: Margaret Cheatham and Deborah Carson and the 11th Sibling Cleopatra Goree and daughters, Angela and Lanita Goree and Paula Harris Stanton and Jacob Stanton. Also her play daughter's Velda Pugh Kinsey, M.D.; Jasmine Pugh Taylor, M.D.; Andrea Pincham Benton, M.D.; Julene Pearson, M.D.; Richet Pearson, Esquire; Monica Austin Hatcher, Esquire; Essie Toodle Gamble; Kae Jones Jackson; Michelle Bridgewater, Phd; Robbie Gardner; Michelle Jackson; and Carol Chapman Willis and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority ...who have watched over her and her daughter consistently during her illness. Their love and devotion is beyond measure and deeply appreciated. Very special mention to the wonderful physician and healer, Dr. Robert Carson Cain who treated her seven days a week for the final eight months of her life. His faith in God is so strong and that mere medicine can not compare. His love and devotion for his patients, family and friends is incomparable. May the Lord Bless and Keep Him and shower His steward and his patients with Mercy and Grace. The family would like to thank all who loved her for their sincere prayers, compassion, thoughtfulness and generosity.

A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE. WRITES ITSELF.
A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE IS A POWERFUL THING.