Louise Parham

Louise Luezia Parham was born on May 16, 1951, in Queens, New York, to Charlie and Carnela Wilson. Raised in Flushing, she attended P.S. schools and was lovingly known to her family as "Weeze." She grew up alongside her two sisters, Evelyn and Kathrine Marie, and her brother, Stevie. To everyone in the projects, though, Weeze was known as the undisputed Queen of the handball court.

Growing up behind Yankee Stadium, Louise developed a lifelong love for sports, music, and-most importantly-family. At just eighteen years old, she welcomed her first child, Robert Anthony Wilson, born on November 2, 1969, the first grandchild of the Wilson family. When Robert was old enough, Louise's mother sat her down and told her, "Go get a job. I will watch Robert." That moment launched Louise into a 35-year career with the telephone company, beginning at Southwestern Bell, where she worked in the call center and built a career through dedication and grit.

One day, while walking with friends toward Rucker Park, Louise stumbled upon a basketball game just about to tip off. She didn't know it then, but one of the young men on the court would become her future husband-Stephen C. Parham. Louise and Stephen were married on Christmas Day in her mother's small apartment, a moment that marked the start of a life full of movement, resilience, and love.

Stephen's military service took the family across the country. On September 11, 1974, while stationed in Spokane, Washington, they welcomed their first child together, Stephen Charles Parham Jr. After returning to New York for a few years, the family eventually settled in Del City, Oklahoma. Louise continued her work with Southwestern Bell, and in 1982, their family grew once more. On August 24, 1982, Katrina Nicole Parham was born at Tinker Air Force Base.

It was in Oklahoma that Louise discovered a deep passion for the game of softball. From the late 1970s through the early 2000s, she built some of the most dominant women's and youth softball teams in the state. Louise worked tirelessly at ballparks across Oklahoma, organizing leagues, tournaments, and clinics. Her days started early and ended late, often involving her children in the process. She organized raffles, bake sales, car washes-anything necessary to support her teams and her community.

If you were anywhere in the ballpark, you could hear her wisdom carried on the wind or spoken straight to you. She fought for every win through careful planning, motivation, and heart. In 1998, Weeze was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame, surrounded by her team ("In the Bone"), along with friends and family. She was honored for the years of hard work, dedication, and impact she gave to the sport. Though she never won a national title, she won in countless other ways-by shaping lives and watching the next generation grow in the game she loved.

Weeze lived by these sayings she passed down to those around her:

1. Know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.

2. Criticism is what you make. You can use it to succeed, or you can let it break you. That choice is yours.

When times were tough, Weeze could have folded. She could have let criticism weigh her down-but she never did. Instead, she chose love, sacrifice, and loyalty. Please take all the love and advice she shared throughout her lifetime and pay it forward.