Sue Parker Obituary

Sue Marion Parker died peacefully on July 29, 2022 in Timonium, Maryland.

She was born in LaGrange, Georgia on January 7, 1938 to Thomas Rance Williams Sr. and Nellie Estelle Shelnutt Williams.

At LaGrange High School, Sue was a member of student council and was voted "most athletic", playing tennis (regional champion in her sophomore year), basketball, swimming, and cheerleading (co-captain her senior year). She was a lifeguard and taught swimming during her summers and was named Miss Playground Queen.

She married Charles Marvin Parker in LaGrange on December 20, 1958 and had two children, Glenn P. Parker and Allison Parker-Abromitis.

She was the first woman to receive a college scholarship from Calloway Mills. She was awarded a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she played on the university tennis team. She later obtained a Masters in Education.

As the wife of an army officer, Sue and her family lived in many parts of the U.S.A., as well as Tokyo, Japan and Nürnberg, Germany. Sue began her teaching career in Germany. After returning to the U.S., she taught mathematics and psychology in Fairfax County, Virginia for over 20 years, later working in special education. She received several nominations for Virginia's Teacher of the Year.

Sue was an award-winning fabric artist, creating beautiful custom-designed and embroidered clothing, quilts, napkins, and spectacular Halloween costumes. She also painted with oils and wrote poetry.

Sue is survived by her husband, Charlie, her children Allison, Glenn and his wife, Faith, her granddaughter, Mariliza K. Parker, her sister, Sandra Green and Sandra's husband Jim, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by five brothers: Bruce, Ronald, Barry, Thomas ("Smut"), and Niles.

A celebration of her life is being planned for a later date.

In lieu of flowers, her family suggests a donation to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org).