Christine Parker

Christine Parker departed her earthly body on December 20, 2025, at the age of 80. A beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, she will be remembered for her beautiful blend of charm, fearlessness, and compassion. 
Christine was born in Philadelphia to Hilda Gaertner and Neil Heary and was raised there, in Texas, and in Charlotte, North Carolina.  After living abroad, she fell in love with San Francisco in the 1960s and eventually made the Bay Area her home, where she raised her two daughters. Later in life, she moved to Southern California before settling in Wilmington, North Carolina. 
A lifelong learner, Christine attended the College of William & Mary, earned a BA from University of Maryland, an MS in Business from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Certificate in Fundraising from the University of California, Irvine.  Over the years, she worked as both a realtor and educator, teaching students from pre-school through college.  
With a creative, pioneering spirit and an incredible knack for connecting people, she found genuine joy as a writer, speaker, community leader and founder of non-profits. In addition to serving in civic roles and forming book clubs and writing groups, she created programs in holistic living, wellness, self-esteem, etiquette, and Southern culture.  Her lust for learning and desire to help others through her experiences led to appearances on NPR, University of California radio programs and in the Los Angeles Times.
Christine’s pastimes included meditating on the beach, playing tennis, and getting together with beloved friends. She fell in love with pickleball in the 1990s, long before it was popular, and adored traveling, continuously seeking connection and wellness. She loved to write about her many experiences, infusing her stories and poetry with her humor and original flair for words.  She once described her need to write as her “soul’s urge to sing.” 
Christine was a supportive mother who showered her girls with praise and enrolled them in a multitude of activities so they could find their passions. A fervent animal lover, she was also a tenderly devoted mother to many Pekingese and adopted pets who were, undoubtedly, waiting for her as she crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
Throughout her life, she retained her youthful and playful spirit. She saw the world with unwavering optimism, even a tinge of innocence, referred to by others as her “rose-colored glasses.” Her courageousness, spirituality, and zest for life carried her through many challenges, including successful treatment of Stage 3 cancer in her 50s.
Christine was a magical person whose smile, humor, and kindness are deeply missed.
She is survived by her daughters, Allison Coburn (Brad) and Britt Earey (Patrick); grandchildren, Parker, Quinn, Michael and Nicholas; former husband, Charles W. Parker, Jr; sisters Merri Small and Michelle Todd; and a niece and two nephews.
A celebration of Christine’s life is being planned in Wilmington for late March.  For further information, please contact [email protected].  Donations can be made in her honor to the ASPCA or an animal rescue of one’s choice.