The Daily Record
John Bertram Parker, 89, of Oklahoma City, Okla., crossed over Jordan into his eternal reward on July 17, 2016, at 3 p.m. He was born on June 5, 1927, in Rocky Mount, N.C., to the late Roy Cleveland Parker and Lillie Haney Parker. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Wiley and Kenneth; and three sisters, Carlee, Alice, and an unnamed stillborn.
John graduated from West Edgecombe High School, Rocky Mount, N.C., on May 21, 1944. In order to fulfill the call of God on his life, John attended Holmes Bible College in Greenville, S.C. His mother had quickened his interest in missions from an early age. The call became more definite during his first year at Holmes. John says that once he agreed to his call to preach, his call to the mission field was easy.
A diploma was not all that John acquired at Holmes. He had caught the attention of a young lady who was teaching at the school. She shared his call to missionary service. On June 21, 1949, they were wed in Garland, N.C. His new bride joined him in Bethel, N.C., where he had already begun his first assignment as the pastor of the Bethel Pentecostal Holiness Church. While pastoring, he attended East Carolina University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in English and Social Studies.
On Christmas Day 1951, John and Edna departed Garland, N.C., for San Jose, Costa Rica to begin their missionary career. It was a career that would eventually span five decades, four continents, a number of countries they would call home, and dozens more that would be touched by his ministry and gifts. By the time they retired from missionary service on Dec. 31, 1999, they had spent 23 years in Costa Rica, eight in Hong Kong, two in Chile, and 11 in various parts of Europe. His stateside ministry included that first pastorate, four years at Southwestern College in Oklahoma City, and several years as the coordinator of the Hispanic ministry in the North Carolina Conference to train and mentor Hispanic pastors and leaders. John’s teaching gift has been used to touch thousands of people in a multitude of cultures and languages.
John is survived by his lovely wife, Edna; one son, David B. Parker and wife Irvina of Oklahoma City; two grandchildren: David Ryan Parker and wife Jessica, Jennifer Nicole Terry and husband Shane; three great-grandchildren: Aubrey, Tristan, and Jasper; two sisters, Virginia Parker and Lillie Vick; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of friends in the U.S. and around the world.
The family would like to thank those special people who have been involved in John’s care over the last several months: Right at Home Health (especially Donna), and Integris Hospice plus a multitude of friends and family for your prayers, phone calls, cards and visitation.
Visitation will be Friday, July 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Cromartie-Miller Funeral Home, Dunn, N.C. Services will be Saturday, July 23, at 11 a.m. at Culbreth Memorial Church, Falcon, N.C., with burial in Falcon Memorial Cemetery. To share condolences, visit www.mercer- adams.com.
John Bertram Parker
