Rodney LaWayne Parker

Rodney LaWayne Parker, age 56, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and formerly of Brinkley, passed away on January 30 at Ascension St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, following a brief illness.

Rodney was born on June 9, 1969, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Carl Lee Parker and Regina Fennell-Parker.

Affectionately known as "Shorty" by his family and friends, Rodney received his formal education at Durham Public Schools in Durham North Carolina. He was a proud member of the Southern High School class of 1987 and was awarded scholarships for both wrestling and softball.

After graduating high school, Rodney enlisted into the Navy Reserves, where he spent 2 years before being honorably discharged.

Growing up, Rodney often attended First Missionary Baptist Church in Brinkley with his grandmother, Josephine White. He also participated in the Children of Harmony children's choir at the church.

Rodney dedicated much of his career to health care, working as a Certified Nursing Assistant for Leisure Healthcare Retirement Village in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for five years. He also provided private duty care for a local family for several years and worked at Parkside Psychiatric Hospital. Earlier in his career, he was employed at Cla-Clif Nursing Home in Brinkley before relocating to Oklahoma.

Rodney was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Josephine Fennell White; paternal grandmother, Florence Parker; and paternal grandfather, Willie Parker.

He is survived by his daughters, Shauntajah Conway of Fort Worth, Texas, and Elizabeth Washington of Sherwood, Arkansas; a special grandson, Tre'Veante Keller of Tulsa, Oklahoma; his father, Carl Lee Parker of Little Rock, Arkansas; his mother, Regina Parker of Brinkley, Arkansas; his sister, Erica Parker of Little Rock, Arkansas; a dear friend and confidant, Christopher Snyder of Tulsa, Oklahoma; as well as a host of other family and friends.

A visitation will be held on Friday evening, February 13, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at C.J. Williams Funeral Directors Chapel, 124 South Main Avenue in Brinkley. Funeral services will take place at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 14, at the First Missionary Baptist Church, 313 South New Orleans in Brinkley, with Reverend Perry Byrd serving as eulogist. Interment will follow at Haven of Rest Cemetery on Charlyne Street in Brinkley. Arrangements are entrusted to C.J. Williams Funeral Directors and Cremations of Brinkley (870) 589-5036 and Stuttgart (870) 672-7100. Email: williamsfuneraldirectors2022@gamil.com and web address: www.williamsfuneraldirectors.net.

Pallbearers

The active pallbearers are Fredrick Washington, Charles Hardin Jr., Jeremiah Anderson, Marcus Chunn, Marico Hampton, Roman Anderson, Cameron McMath, and Dale Bailey.