Charles Levon Parks

1941 - 2022

Charles Levon Parks, A.K.A. "Charlie", entered the world on August 27, 1941, the seventh of eight children born to Rachel Ingram and Clay Bell Parks. Anniston, Alabama is his birthplace. Mr. Parks passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 surrounded by his family. He is preceded in death by his parents, Clay and Rachel Parks; sisters, Agnes Cochran, Alene Smith, Edna King, Geraldine Newman, and Ollie Otte; and brothers, Gerald Parks and Jimmy Parks. Charles attended Walter W. Wellborn High School. Maintaining straight A's throughout was a personal detail he was very proud of because he always knew this early academic vigor opened doors to future educational and career opportunities that might have otherwise stayed closed to him. He was also a 4-sport athlete in high school, earning all-county honors in both football and baseball in 1958 and 1959. He was offered a professional baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox in 1959 but chose instead to board a train in Anniston one fine day, arriving at the Nation's Capital, where he had been accepted into The American University as an undergraduate. Here he earned both his A.A. and B.A degrees in government and public administration. He then went on to earn his Juris Doctorate degree at American University Washington College of Law. While attending school, Charles gained real time experience working as a staff member for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1959-1967. Here he witnessed much of the turbulent 60's from a distinct vantage point, acquiring a treasure trove of memories, friendships, and stories he would share throughout his lifetime. Charles wed his beloved wife, Paulette, in 1967 in Gainesville, Georgia, whereupon they settled in Anniston, starting a family and launching his career as a trial attorney at the law firm Young, Young and Parks. From 1967 to 2004, he built a solid and highly esteemed reputation as a "Lawyer's Lawyer", litigating hundreds of major criminal and civil cases primarily throughout the state of Alabama; and others in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi and Rhode Island. He gained distinction by participating in numerous law case "firsts", and was actively involved in too many professional and civic organizations to list in entirety here, but perhaps most notably: the Alabama and American Bar Associations; Vice-Dean Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity; Calhoun County Bar Association Vice President (1979-80); President (1980-81); and Executive Committee (1983-84); Anniston Civitan Club (1970-1995); Chamber of Commerce (1979-1983); Calhoun County Historical Society; Associate Member Fraternal Order of Police; Outstanding Lawyers of America Society; Eagle Scout; Jaycee; Shriner (York Rite Zamora Temple); Master Mason (Saint John Lodge); and lifetime member B.P.O.E. Lodge 189. He was also a published author whose robust collection of personal memories and amusing anecdotes collected over a lifetime are preserved in his book Exceptions to Silence - a must read for anyone who loved Charles Parks! He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 55 years, Paulette Bryant Parks; children, Demaris Heather Parks (partner Marco Escobedo), Laura Bryant Caldwell Parks-Whitaker (husband David Whitaker), and Katherine Amanda Parks; grandson, Mathias Charles Monsanto; his ever-loving "dog-son", Tobi the Shih Tzu, and Butterbean, his tortoise cat. Charles was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and loyal friend to many. He was, above all, a faithful child of God whose heart brimmed with joy contemplating uniting with his Lord and loved ones at the Gates of Heaven. Charlie will be honored with a celebration of life ceremony on Thursday, April 28, 2022 at the Martha Vandervoort Memorial Chapel, Camp Lee, 70 Hidden Valley Road, Anniston, Alabama 36207. Visitation will commence at 3:30 and service will begin at 5:00. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Charles' honor to The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society (https://www.lls.org); 4 Legs 4 Justice Animal Advocate and Rescue (https://www.4legs4justice.org); or Golden Springs Baptist Church, 3 Robertson Road, Anniston Al 36207. Online condolences may be made to the Parks family at www.klbrownmemorychapel.com. K.L. Brown Memory Chapel 620 Golden Springs Road Anniston, AL 36207 256.231.2334