Barbara Parker Obituary

On Wednesday afternoon, January 8, 2025, Barbara quietly passed away peacefully surrounded by her caregivers and friends that have stayed by her side for the last 6 years. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Barbara was a high school graduate from Asheboro High School, in Randolph County. She was the daughter of Clyde Bowden Allred and Bernice Higgins Allred of Asheboro, NC; both deceased. Born in 1933, she was the only child and was close to her parents all her life. After high school she married James William Parker, Sr. of Randleman, NC (deceased) in the early fifties and moved to Durham around 1962. Barbara was mother to two children, James Willam Parker, Jr. and Jill Parker Veasey (deceased).
In her early work life, she was a bank teller for Wachovia bank. During the family years she was a stay-at-home mom. She also spent a lot of her free time at Willowhaven Country Club, playing golf with the Women of Willowhaven ladies group. She enjoyed many days on that course with her close golfing friends. After her children graduated high school, she began working for local florists, Northgate Florist and Sanders Florist, which she loved. In the late 90s, she opened her own business: Trash and Treasures/Custom Silks, which was a vintage furniture and silk flower decorating business located on Guess Road in Durham.
She loved to travel. Her travel partner was her mother Bernice, who was always with her, until Bernice's death in 2002. They were best friends and traveled to many places around the world that she longed to see.
Barbara was blessed with 9 grandchildren: Barbara Brooke Veasey, Alex Veasey Lynch, Jennifer Parker Kearney, Michael William Parker, River Mae Parker, Arrow Grace Parker, Samuel Hayes Thurber, Charles Lewis Thurber and Miles David Thurber.
She was also blessed with 4 great-grandchildren: Meela Lindsay Parker, Ryen Presley Parker, Jackson Alan Bales and Hayden Parker Kearney
The Family will hold a private ceremony in the spring for Barbara, and requests that in lieu of flowers or gifts, please make donations to The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center of Duke Medical Center.