Alison Parker Obituary
Born in Annapolis, MD, Alison grew up in Collinsville, Virginia and graduated from Martinsville High School in 2009. Her many accomplishments included Piedmont District Swimmer of the Year award, Big M Trophy recipient, and a member of the jazz and concert bands where she played both trumpet and French horn. As a student at the Piedmont Governors School for Math, Science and Technology, she was a member of the award winning robotics team. Alison was a gymnast, a beautiful dancer, and when kayaking with her family she grew to love the beauty of the rivers around us.
She was accepted into the James Madison University School of Media Arts and Design, and was a news editor at the Breeze, a member of Alpha Phi Sorority, and was a tutor of freshmen calculus students. During her college summers she was a New College Institute intern for The United Way and MURA in Martinsville, and at WDBJ7 in Roanoke, Virginia. She graduated from JMU in 2012 and joined the news team at WCTI12 in North Carolina as the Jacksonville bureau chief, covering Camp Lejeune and the surrounding area, where she relished the tough schedule and hard news. Alison was recruited to return to WDBJ7 in Roanoke as the Mornin' Reporter last year, and she greeted viewers each weekday morning with a smile and her bubbly personality, hoping to make their day a little brighter. She loved her job and had such a bright future ahead in the field of journalism, but still found time to support her community. She was rehearsing to be a contestant in the Valley Stars benefit for the Salvation Army of Roanoke Turning Point, the only secure center in the Roanoke Valley for adult survivors and their children who are in imminent danger from family and intimate partner violence. She will be missed by everyone she touched, and she lived life to the fullest in her short time on earth.
She is survived by the love of her life, Chris L. Hurst of Roanoke, VA; her parents, Andy and Barbara Parker of Collinsville; brother, Drew Parker of Mt. Airy, NC; grandmothers, Frances Bailey of Denison, TX and Gloria Parker of Austin, TX; aunts, Lisa Foster of Sherman, TX, Kristin Bailey Murphy of Hollywood, CA, and Jane Ann Parker of Austin, TX; and cousins, Kristin and Caitlin Miller of Dallas, TX, Meredith Foster of Georgetown, TX, and Jonas and Makenna Parker of Austin, TX; and countless special friends like Sasha, Katie, and Georgina. She especially loved Jack and Sophie, the best dogs ever.
A celebration of Alison's life will be held at a later date after a private memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the following scholarship funds or charitable organizations:
JMU scholarship Alison B Parker Memorial Fund
James Madison University
220 University Blvd
Office of Annual Giving MSC 3603
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Online contributions at http://bit.ly./1K3SqXq
Alison Bailey Parker Memorial Scholarship
Patrick Henry Community College Foundation
645 Patriot Avenue, Martinsville, VA 24112.
Online contribution: patrickhenryfoundation.com
To donate to the Valley Stars and Salvation Army of Roanoke in Alison's name, visit https://www.valleydancing.com/
Norris Funeral Services Inc. and Crematory Martinsville, VA, 1500 Kings Mountain Road, Martinsville, VA 24112 is serving the Parker family.
Online condolences may be made at NorrisFuneral.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Karen Stover
September 15, 2015
I have no idea of the depth of your pain but I am a Mother, I pray your family will find peace. In Deepest Sympathy,
Vasilios Emmanuel Glimidakis
September 9, 2015
Dear Parker and other families,
I am sorry for your loss. May her memory be eternal! God bless her and her family.
Cheryl spangler
September 6, 2015
So sorry for the lost of your daughter, so senseless of they way went to heaven. May the lord be with and remember the good times as a family. What a beautiful women.
Sincerely,
Cheryl spangler ( Ogden Utah)
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Jeff Johnson
September 5, 2015
The Parents of Alison Parker: I am very, very sorry for the loss of your daughter. She was an exceptional young woman.
September 5, 2015
OMG!!!!
Camron Johnson
September 4, 2015
Earth has no sorrow, that heaven cannot heal! May you find peace in knowing that she is in the good hands of the Alpha And Omega, the Lilly of the valley, the bright and morning star, the rose of sharon, the all powerful and all knowing...Jesus Christ! There is no safer place than resting in his arms! May God bless your family and may she rest in peace!
Cletonia Stingley-Barnes
September 3, 2015
Mr. and Mrs. Parker:
I am a parent also, I can feel your pain. May our Lord keep you and comfort you. I hope that you and your family can some day remember all the good that Alison brought to this world and replace your pain with smiles.
The world is sharing your pain and we love you.
Michelle James
September 3, 2015
There are no words but, I know that she is resting in the arms of the our Lord Savior Jesus Christ. Praying for the family, God Bless You All.
Michelle James
Dolly persaud
September 2, 2015
Our condolences to the Parker family and she was one of a kind very special girl taken away from earth.God bless the family to overcome this sad time.
Nyashia Carter
September 2, 2015
May she rest in everlasting. My deepest condolences to your family.
Neil Klein
September 2, 2015
Alison was such a beautiful, classy, feminine & talented young lady!!! May she rest in peace!!!
michael Fields
September 2, 2015
Alison brightened everyone's morning and her smile was so warm and genuine, we will miss seeing her every morning, but know that she will never be forgotten, to her family and friends she will always be with you.
Rick Carlton
September 1, 2015
Such a beautiful, young woman gone way too soon. Heaven has a special place for such a wonderful person. My prayers are with her family and WDBJ 7.
Lori McClure
September 1, 2015
My heart is breaking with you...even though the media spotlight will fade and vanish, please know that there are and will be many people thinking and praying for all of you. I pray that God will give you an abundance of strength to get you through the months and years ahead. I pray that God will bring you peace with the understanding of why this took place. Much love to you all.
Joy Kent
August 31, 2015
May the peace and love of Christ be with your family during your time of loss. I didn't know Alison but watched her shine her radiant smile and positive personality most mornings. What a blessing she was to everyone she came across whether broadcasting news or in person. You raised a fine young woman.
Roberta Paige
August 31, 2015
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Abbie & Ryan Parkhurst
August 31, 2015
We will most certainly tell our young daughters about Alison and all that made her so special to Ryan as her professor. We hope our girls will grow up to have some of Alison's wonderful attributes and that she can live on through them. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
betty white
August 31, 2015
she will be truly missed. She was a great reporter, and love to watch her on TV, when she lived in Jacksonville. A ray of sunshine
aurora lowry
August 31, 2015
Somewhere someday a little girl will be made aware of allison and will be inspired to want to be like her. Thus fulfilling 'death gives life' which has already given new life to allison who is now in full glory with her father in heaven. If I had a little girl, allison would be my top of the list role model for my child.
Joe Orie
August 30, 2015
To Allisons, true love Chris, her family, friends and colleagues. My deepest heartfelt sympathy is more than words can express and my prayers are with you during this indescribable time of grieving. Together we morn the loss of a young lady, so beautiful and full of the life that she loved so much. She left all of us too soon. May God comfort us as she's rests in His loving arms.....
August 30, 2015
Praying for the family.
August 30, 2015
I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your loved one. May our Heavenly Father provide strength and comfort to your family during this time of grief. "For he is near to those broken at heart ". Ps 34:17,18.
Tammy Closson
August 30, 2015
You truly made a difference in this world. RIP.
MITCH HERSH
August 30, 2015
I WILL PRAY FOR YOUR FAMILY EVERY DAY. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN ALL OF OUR HEARTS..
August 30, 2015
This is so sad to see someone just taken away so sensesly. I looked at the media coverage and her Facebook page and my heart breaks for everyone that knew her. To her friends and family, think of the good times and her laughter and she will be with you always. God bless you all in this time of sorrow.
Rebecca Muller
August 30, 2015
As someone who used to write newspaper articles during high school and college I am heartbroken at the loss of such a lovely and talented young woman. I admire her family's strength and am keeping all of them in my thoughts and prayers.
sandra thornton
August 29, 2015
r.i.p alison
joy hardison
August 29, 2015
I did not know her but anyone can see she was a remarkable woman w/ so much to give. I wish there were words to give you some comfort, but only God can and will do that for you all.
lisa sheets
August 29, 2015
Heaven has two new angels to sing his praise our thoughts are with you and the Ward family God Bless
Lisa Sheets
Marion,VA
tom woolery
August 29, 2015
what a beautiful soul--may she rest in piece!
August 29, 2015
May family and friends receive comfort and support from our Almighty God at this time of deep sorrow.
Wes and Kathy Goforth
August 29, 2015
Rest in peace, dear one. Thank you for touching our lives with your light and grace. We will never forget.
Canadian friends
August 29, 2015
May it comfort all of Alison and Ward's family and friends and co-workers that we send you our deepest sympathy.We are watching on TV in Canada and out hearts go out to you all. Alison's father and fiancé are very brave.God bless them in all the days ahead and everyone who knew and loved her. We will never forget her,so we hope that gives you some comfort.
Keith Dixon
August 29, 2015
RIP you will be missed we enjoyed your coverage here in New Bern Alison pls tell Skip Waters we all in New Bern said hello God Bless
Doris Sawyer
August 29, 2015
My prayers and thoughts for her family. She was taken to soon. She was a beautiful young lady. My heart breaks for the family a d the love of her life. God bless all of you.
Craig Fieldhouse
August 29, 2015
So very sad,a bright,beautiful young lady taken too soon.She had all her life to look forward to.This horrible event has shocked all here in the UK..Thoughts and prayers are with all that knew Alison and Adam.RIP.
James Taylor
August 29, 2015
Rest In Peace young lady, you will always be in my heart. Gone too soon at a young age, but your beauty & memory will go on forever.
Susan Jones
August 28, 2015
R.I.P. Alison Bailey Parker
Susan Jones
August 28, 2015
R.I.P. Alison Parker !
Cynthia Taylor
August 28, 2015
What a beautiful young woman, taken too soon. My prayers to her loved ones.
Connie Campbell
August 28, 2015
I am so sorry to the parents, brother and extended family of this lovely young woman, as well as her WDBJ family. My prayers are with you for God's loving arms and peace that only He can provide.
August 28, 2015
Praying for your family at this time.
The Lawson Family
William Lundquist
August 28, 2015
How sad my heart for her family and friends in this time of sorrow.
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1500 Kings Mountain Road P.O. Box 5501, Martinsville, VA 24115
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