Stuart Lesley Parker

Stuart Lesley Parker, "PaPa", age 66, of Canton, Georgia, peacefully went home to be with his Lord and Savior, on August 31st, 2025, surrounded by his daughters. Stuart was born and raised in East Point, Georgia, where his love for the Lord first began. He was known for always holding firm to his belief in Jesus and his desire to share the gospel with others.

Stuart was born on July 26, 1959, in Atlanta, Georgia, to James and Juanita Parker. As a young boy, he enjoyed growing up closely with his siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles. He loved camping with his family, and those annual trips began his love for the mountains. Stuart's young life was also filled with long days and nights playing football with his best friend & younger brother, Jeff. His older sister, Chris, babysat and would let the younger brothers have fun stealing ice cream and goofing off when she was in charge. Once their dad, James Parker, passed away at an early age, Stuart's big brother Steve filled in the gaps with coaching football and fishing trips. He loved his time on the Colonial Hills high school football team and often raved about those glory days to his grandkids, especially as he cheered on his Georgia Bulldogs!

Stuart had a gift of singing and loved to share that gift through gospel music, beginning at First Baptist Church, East Point. He learned to sing mostly at the request of his grandmother, Mama D. Stuart. He received many requests throughout his life to sing in the community. Including in his school, retirement homes, and church events. He even played major roles in Christmas productions, with his latest performance being Moses!

Stuart was a faithful member of First Baptist Church Woodstock, where he and Elizabeth raised their daughters for many years. His love of the mountains and family adventures rolled over into his parenting days. He instilled that love of the fall air and camping trips into his daughters. Together, they made countless memories fishing, playing in the lake, skipping rocks, and climbing mountains. He was a fun, goofy, often embarrassing, creative, and tradition-loving Dad. The magic of Christmas was often amplified by that creativity and his daughters hold tight to those memories and continue them to this day with his grandchildren. Stuart's employment with Delta Airlines provided an opportunity for family travel and for his girls to spend quality time with him. Whether it was on trips to Savannah to enjoy the beach, their Disney experience that was a highlight of their childhood, or even the one-on-one time sightseeing in Washington, DC. He provided those experiences, and to him, the memories were worth every bit of his hard work.

As the years went by, life brought many challenges, but Stuart faced them with resilience and faith. He had struggles and burdens, but through it all, he always knew his Savior could carry the weight when it was too heavy. He often shared that faith with his children and grandchildren. He was the most proud “Papa” and often bragged about his grandkids to anyone who would lend a listening ear. He cherished the time he had with family and wanted to make the most of it. His later years were devoted to caring for his Mother. Their bond was truly special, and he loved her dearly. Although the Lord took him home sooner than expected, he made a lasting impact on the coming generations simply through sharing his testimony.

Stuart was preceded in death by his father, James Riley Parker, and his Mother, Juanita Deason Parker of East Point, Georgia. He is survived by his 3 daughters, Chrystal (Chris), Jennifer (Brandon), and Laura (Coe). He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, Leigh, Macy, Josiah, Savannah, Eliviah, Isaiah, Annabelle, Bryleigh, Emalynn, Landon, Brantley, Harley, William, and Harper. Stuart is also survived by his sister, Chris, and brothers Steve and Jeff, along with his niece Jamie and nephews Brian, James, and Chase.