JOHNNY PARKER
Elder Johnnie “JP” Parker, Jr, son of the late Johnnie Parker, Sr and Helen Guerrant Parker, was born in Portsmouth, VA on September 17, 1956. On Sunday, January 9, 2022 he transitioned from labor to reward at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Onley, VA.
Elder Parker was raised in Norfolk, VA and received his education from Maury High School, Eastern Shore Community College, Bowie State University, Delaware State University and Old Dominion University where he pledged Omega Psi Phi in 1979. He graduated with honors in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services.
Elder Parker met and fell in love with his late wife, Rosie Mae Parker in the 1980’s and later married on March 31, 1984. They were blessed with a daughter, Jasmine Parker whom they loved dearly from that union. Jasmine and her father had a special bond. After the passing of his late wife, he was united in Holy Matrimony with Cara Parker in 2000.
In the 1980’s and 1990’s, Johnnie was a car salesman, life insurance agent, carpet installer and onthe weekends delivered newspapers. In 2004, he worked as a substance abuse counselor for Civigenics in Georgetown, DE. In his most recent position, he was a career counselor with the Educational Opportunity Center at their Eastern Shore of Virginia site, helping many people establish their career goals and get a second chance in life. He loved this position because it allowed him to help others succeed.
In 1997, he was baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy Ghost within that same year. He was ordained a minister at the Glorious Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faithin Jacksonville, FL in August of 1997. In February of 2014, he was ordained an Elder at the Community Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith by Elder Thornton Pitts and Bishop Willie M. Bell in Seaford, DE. He served in the capacity of Minister and church Elder at the Community Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith in Seaford, DE for the pasttwo decades.
Elder Parker was known for leading praise and testimony, cleaning the church, visiting the sick and ministering to the youth and men in prison. He was a mentor and once the keynote speaker for the Fatherhood Mentoring program sponsored by Educational Services of Hampton Roads, Inc. and the city of Portsmouth Department Social Services. He was also a founding member of the Tau Lambda Chapter of Psi Phi Fraternity at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA.
He is survived by his wife, Cara Parker of Melfa, VA, daughter: Jasmine Parker of Chester, VA; aunt: Mary Johnson of Bowie, MD; uncle: Charles Bell of Eastville, VA; aunt: Connie Parker of Norfolk, VA; four special nieces: Kenya Baines, Latrice Parker, Alijhanae “Nae Nae” Trower, and Alexis Sample of Virginia Beach, VA; a special nephew Prentice (Shaquiche) Parker of Virginia Beach, VA, best friend Douglas Smith, Sr of Virginia Beach, VA and a host of relatives,friends and church family.
