Roy Turnage Parker M.D.

RALEIGH -- Roy Turnage Parker, MD, Chairman Emeritus of Duke University Medical Center Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, died Friday, June 20, 2003 at The Forest at Duke. He was 82 years old. He was born September 7, 1920 in Pinetops, NC and grew up in Edgecombe County. He received his A.B. degree from the University of North Carolina in 1941 and his MD from Medical College of Virginia in 1944. He was in the Naval Reserves 1942-43 and 1946-51. On active duty in the Navy 1944-46, he interned at the US Naval Hospital in Bethesda, MD, then served in the Pacific Theatre in World War II. He subsequently was Chief of OB-GYN at the US Naval Hospital, Camp LeJeune, NC, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Dr. Parker came to Duke University for OB-GYN residency in 1946. He was in private practice in Kinston 1952-53 with his brother, Dr. Samuel Parker. He returned to Duke Hospital in 1953 as Professor and became Chairman of OB-GYN in 1964, serving in that capacity until 1980. He was made F. Bayard Carter Professor in 1970.
Dr. Parker belonged to many professional societies, among them the Association of Professors of OB-GYN (past president), F. Bayard Carter Society (past president), American College of OB-GYN (past president), and was an Ad Eundum member of the Royal College of OB-GYN.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, he was respected and adored by family, friends, students, and his patients. He is predeceased by his brother, Hal.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Georgia Sugg Parker of The Forest at Duke; a brother, Samuel and his wife, Fran of Kinston, NC; a son, David Turnage Parker and his wife, Karen of Cincinnati, Ohio; a daughter, Nancy Parker Giguere and her husband, Jeff, of Greenville, SC. Roy and Georgia have eight grandchildren: Kate, Anne, Kent, and Mark Giguere, and Katherine, Harrison, Cassie, and Georgia Abigail Parker.
The family wishes to express gratitude to the staff of The Forest at Duke for their care and support.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Roy T. Parker Endowed Professorship, c/o Dept. of OB-GYN, DUMC, Durham, NC 27710, or to the charity of your choice.
Memorial services will be held Tuesday, June 24 at 2:00 PM in the Duke Chapel, Dr. Will Willimon presiding. The family will receive friends at The Forest at Duke immediately following the service.
Arrangements by the Cremation Society of the Carolinas, Raleigh.