John Thomas Parker, Jr., age 91, of Columbus, MS passed away Wednesday, February 28, 2018, at his residence.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 2, 2018, from 10:00 – 11:00 AM at Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS. A funeral service will follow Friday, March 2, 2018, at 11:00 AM with Bro. Sammy Crawford officiating and Bro. Tommy Gillon assisting. Graveside service and interment will be at North Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Kilmichael, MS with Lowndes Funeral Home directing.

Mr. Parker was born on December 15, 1926, in Greenwood, MS to the late John Thomas and Gladys Mae Gurney Parker, Sr. He was a member of Fairview Baptist Church, Columbus, MS. Mr. Parker worked at United Technologies for over 35 years. He was a Boy Scouts Leader, won the Silver Beaver Award, and was a scouting volunteer. Mr. Parker was a member of the Hairston Bend Hunting Club. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and served in the Korean War and WW II. In addition to his parents, Mr. Parker was preceded in death by his infant daughter- Gladys Ann Parker, and his sister- Mary Rae Gurney.

Mr. Parker is survived by his loving wife- Lillie Frances Petty Parker of Columbus, MS; daughter- Sally Parker Heath of Swannanoa, NC; sons- John Thomas Parker, III of Medellin, Columbia, and Jimmy Lewis (Debbie) Parker, Sr. of Siler City, NC; grandchildren- Ernie McNeely, Jimmy Lewis Parker, Jr., Dr. Melissa Angelique Parker Tutwiler, and Annie Lou Heath; great-grandchildren- Austin McNeely, Parker Tutwiler Abigail Tutwiler; and brother- Donald Raymond (Barbara) Parker of Meridian, MS.

Pallbearers will be Jimmy Parker, Jr., Ernie McNeely, Dale Parra, Buddy Parker, Aaron Tutwiler, Phil Atkins, Ernest Petty, and Austin McNeely. Honorary pallbearers will be Hairston Bend Hunting Club, Ken Linton's Sunday School Class at Fairview Baptist Church, Dr. Woodard, Dr. Woodson, Dr. King, Dr. Whitecar, Dr. Meeks, and the Staff of Baptist Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Baptist Children's Village or Fairview Baptist Church.

To view service online for Mr. Parker please click HERE