Dr. William Hilburn Parker of White Oak, Mississippi

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Dr. William Hilburn Parker

December 23, 1929 – August 11, 2021

Dr. William Hilburn Parker, 91, of White Oak, Mississippi, passed from his earthly home to his heavenly home with his wife of 71 years at his side on Wednesday, August 11, 2021. He was born Monday, December 23, 1929.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 15, 2021 from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at the Colonial Chapel, Magee, MS. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM in the chapel. Burial will follow in Old Good Hope Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. Bro. Steele Cockrell of Harrisville, MS will officiate. The family has politely asked that visitors wear masks while indoors. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Magee is in charge of arrangements. (601) 849-5031

Dr. Parker was raised on a farm near White Oak, Mississippi. He graduated from White Oak High School in 1949 and pursued his Associates Degree at Jones Junior College. While there for a short time, Dr. Parker was deployed by the Army and served as a medical technician during the Korean War. While on deployment, he earned his Combat Medic badge. Upon his return, he was commissioned as an officer in the National Guard Engineering Battalion and later assigned to the General’s Staff under Governor William “Bill” Allain. Before retiring as Lieutenant Colonel, his military accomplishments included attending numerous special warfare colleges and helping establish Mississippi’s first Special Forces Green Beret unit. For nearly 40 years, Dr. Parker served his country.

Dr. Parker valued education alongside his military career. He completed his degree from Jones Junior College (1952). He received his BS in Vocational Agriculture (1954), MS in Educational Administration (1955), and Ed. D. in Educational Administration, Supervision, and Psychology (1972) from Mississippi State University. He served as a Coach, Teacher, Principal, Vocational Director, and Assistant Superintendent for Schools in Simpson County (1954-1964). He spent innumerable hours providing not only an environment conducive to learning for Simpson County students but also instilling in them enduring skills to flourish in society. From 1974-1994, Dr. Parker joined the staff at Jackson State University as a Professor of Educational Administration, Director of Admissions and Special Recruitment, Department Chair of ACIM, and Coordinator of Off-Campus Studies at various locations, including Simpson County Schools. Dr. William Parker has been meritorious in accomplishing his educational goals in Simpson County and the State of Mississippi.

After 40 years of educational service, he continued to serve his community through Baptist ministry in which he recently retired after 70 years. He was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Raleigh, MS.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tyree and Lona Parker of White Oak, MS; brother Roy C.J. (Janie) Parker; sister Ethel Mae (Jerome) Maddox; sister Myrtis (John) Williams.

Survivors include his wife, Jerlean (Craft) Parker of White Oak; 4 children-daughter Beverly Ann (Tom) Glasgow of Oxford, son Richard Parker of White Oak, son William, Jr. (Cathy) Parker of Texas, daughter Cindy (Jerry) Cook of Mendenhall; 8 grandchildren- Stanley (Sonia) Parker, Emily Clisby, Justin (Sabrina) Clisby, Elizabeth “Libby” Cook, TR Parker, Jeremy (Kayla) Parker, Tim (Robin) Cook, Jamie Leigh Parker; and 9 great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Jerry Cook, Tim Cook, Stanley Parker, TR Parker, Jeremy Parker, and Justin Clisby. Honorary pallbearers will be Tom Glasgow, Larry Harvey, Lee Maddox, Dwayne Cook, and Lance Walker.