Francis Iredell Parker

Francis Iredell Parker
Mr. Parker, 84, died on March 5, 2008 at CMC Mercy Hospital after several months of declining health. He was born in Charlotte on August 21, 1923, the third child of John Johnston Parker, originally of Monroe, and Maria Burgwin Maffitt Parker, originally of Wilmington. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased in 1941 by his brother, John J. Parker, Jr.
Francis Parker graduated from Woodberry Forest School in 1941. He received an A.B. degree in 1945 and an LL.B. degree in 1949 from the University of North Carolina, which he loved and served in various capacities for his entire adult life. He served his country as a member of the United States Navy in the Second World War and the Korean Conflict.
He was admitted to the bar in 1949 and enjoyed a highly distinguished legal career. After graduation from law school, he joined the law firm of Taliaferro, Clarkson & Grier and spent his entire career with that firm, now named Parker, Poe, Adams & Bernstein L.L.P. He was active in the Mecklenburg County Bar (serving as its president 1969-1970), the North Carolina State Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the American Law Institute. He served the bar and people of North Carolina as a long-time member and for a while chairman of the North Carolina Board of Law Examiners, service that he cherished, and as a member of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. In 2003, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of North Carolina School of Law.
He was a lifelong Episcopalian, was christened and confirmed at St. Martin's Episcopal Church and spent his adult life at Christ Episcopal Church where he served several terms on the vestry and many years as acolyte director. He was for many years a trustee of Penick Village, a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina.
He was a long-time trustee of Johnson C. Smith University.
He was a member of the Navajo Club, the Piedmont Club, the Good Fellows Club, the Horace Williams Philosophy Discussion Group, the Charlotte Country Club and the Republican Party.
Francis Parker is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Mary Sommers Booth Parker; their children, John Johnston Parker III of Charlotte, William Booth Parker (Eve) of Birmingham AL, Mary Sommers Parker Welch (Tom) of Huntersville; seven grandchildren, Virginia Booth Parker, John Johnston Parker IV, Mary Laurens Welch, William Francis Parker, Virginia Sommers Welch, Elizabeth Ann Parker and Parker Alexander Welch; a sister, Sara Burgwin Parker Ward of Spartanburg; two nieces, Maria Maffitt Ward Estefania of Chevy Chase MD and Sara Montgomery Ward of Spartanburg. He loved his family and his many friends and colleagues. They loved him back and will miss him.
A service to celebrate the life of Francis Parker will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, 1412 Providence Road, on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Following the service his ashes will be interred in the Christ Church Memorial Garden. The family will receive friends following the service in the Blue Room of the church. Honorary pallbearers will be the partners of Parker, Poe, Adams & Bernstein L.L.P.
The family will also receive friends on Sunday afternoon from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Community Hall at The Cypress.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials be made to the Humane Society of Charlotte, 2700 Toomey Avenue Charlotte, NC 28203, Christ Episcopal Church, 1412 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28207 or the charity of the donor's choice.
Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & Whittington, Dilworth Chapel, 1111 East Blvd. Online at www.hankinsandwhittington.com.