Cecilia Rios Parker

JACKSONVILLE - Cecilia Rios Parker, 80, of Jacksonville, was born on January 16, 1946, and entered eternal life on February 7, 2026. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at Kellum Baptist Church in Jacksonville with Rev. Mitch Smith officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Parker Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Kellum Baptist Church one hour prior to the service.

Mrs. Parker was born in the country of Panama, Central America and was raised there. She married Cyrus Franklin Parker, Sr. on August 15, 1967 in Cocoli, Panama Canal Zone. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She cherished being surrounded by her family and had a special love for children of all ages.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Josefina Guerra; her husband, Cyrus Franklin Parker, Sr.; her son, Cyrus Parker, Jr.; her son-in-law, Tony Shackelford; and her sisters-in-law, Bertha Williams, Minnie Ketchum, Annie Barnett, and Lilly Parry.

Survivors include her daughter, Katherine Abril and husband William of Jacksonville; her daughter, Alice Parker Shackelford of Greenville; her daughter-in-law, Rachael Kyler Parker of Wilson; her son, Timothy Parker and wife Sonia of Apex; and her daughter, Melissa Tsao and husband Doug of Jacksonville. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Juanita Taylor, and her brother-in-law, Roger Parker, both of Jacksonville.

Cecilia's legacy continues through her beloved grandchildren: Kristina Abril; Melany and husband Michael Medina; Christian Abril; Bradley Shackelford; Lauren and husband Henry Myers; Joshua Shackelford; Ethan Parker; Carmen Parker; Victoria Parker; Leo Parker; Luna Parker; and Brock Tsao.

She was also blessed with great-grandchildren: Carter Gant, Carson Gant, Cecilia Gant, Cruz Granados, and Isabel Medina.

Cecilia had a genuine love for every person who entered her life. She was a faithful prayer warrior who spent time each day reading God's Word. She found joy in flowers and gardening, cooking and baking, and caring for children as if they were her own. She delighted in watching the birds and squirrels that frequented her well-stocked birdhouses. Cecilia was joyful, loving, kind, and generous to all. She will be deeply missed-more than she will ever know.

Flowers are welcomed or memorials can be made to Operation Christmas Child Foundation, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or via their website at https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/ways-to-give/

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