Rev. Vernon Clyde Parker

Rev. Vernon Clyde Parker was born in St. Louis, MO., on October 26, 1940, and stepped into eternity on March 30, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of grit, grace, and unwavering faith. His life was a story of redemption-a testimony to the power of God's transforming love.
The oldest son of the late Archie Parker and Brady Lee (Snody), Vernon's early years were marked by hardship. Raised in St. Louis on both sides of the river, he learned to fight for survival at a young age. By his teenage years, the streets had claimed him, leading to years in and out of reformatories and penitentiaries. In his mid-20s, in the middle of serving an 11-year sentence, God intervened in the most unexpected way. Through the persistent prayers of his parents and the bold compassion of their pastor, C.M. O'Guin, Vernon was given a second chance-not just at life, but at purpose.
Living under the strict watch of O'Guin, Vernon worked in the church cemetery, digging graves with a shovel. But as he dug, something deeper was being unearthed-a hunger for truth, a calling to preach, and a love for Jesus that would define the rest of his days. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Linda, and from that moment on, his life was no longer his own.
For decades, Vernon poured his heart into ministry, traveling across the country preaching with the fire of a man who had seen both the depths of sin and the heights of grace. He was more than a preacher-he was a prophet, protector, and provider. He called out nonsense when he saw it, defended those he loved with unshakable loyalty, and never let his past define him-only the grace of God that saved him.
Vernon's faith was not quiet or passive-it was fierce, unyielding, and unapologetically bold. He never sugarcoated the truth. He had lived too much, seen too much, and walked too many hard roads to play games with the things that mattered. When he spoke, he meant it, and when he preached, you felt it. He never forgot where he came from, and that's why he was relentless in pointing others toward the only hope that had ever changed him-the grace of Calvary.
But perhaps his greatest mission in life was his family. Everything Vernon did was to provide for his children the things he never had. Whether it was ATVs, go-karts, or vehicles, he delighted in giving his kids what was out of reach for him growing up. Even in his final years, every plan he made was about ensuring that Linda, the love of his life, would be taken care of long after he was gone.
Vernon's greatest love was God, his deepest joy was his family, and his most defining mark was grace. Though the fire of his past never fully left him, it was refined into something stronger-a burning passion for truth and an unshakable faith in Jesus Christ.
Vernon is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Linda Longbottom Parker. Also surviving are three children: Shane (Lorrie) Parker of Gallatin, TN, Sommer (Joseph) Carpenter, and Sloan (Erin) Parker, both of Poplar Bluff, MO; twelve grandchildren: LaDonna Parker, Willard Parker, Preston Parker, Anabella Parker, Gracie Parker, Garrett Parker, Piercyn Parker, Clayton Carpenter, Colton Carpenter, Dawson Parker, Carson Parker, and Olivia Parker; and four great-grandchildren: Archer Clyde, Declan Lewis Parker, Emelia Nicole Carpenter, and Finley Lane Carpenter.
In addition to his parents, Vernon was preceded in death by one granddaughter: Carley Jo Carpenter; one great-granddaughter: Adalynn Jean Carpenter; and all four of his siblings: Margaret Jones, Barbara White, Shirley Perkins, and Gaylon Parker.
Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Southside Assembly of God in Poplar Bluff. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 AM in the church sanctuary with Rev. Sloan Parker officiating. Burial will be at Kinsey Cemetery in Harviell, MO. Friends and family are invited to gather, not just to grieve, but to celebrate a life that was transformed, a life that transformed others, and a life that now rests in the Savior he loved so deeply. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Calvary's Grace Ministries, the nonprofit founded by Vernon to help those in need. Condolences can be given at the Facebook page, "A Tribute for Vernon Parker," or www.whitesandersfuneralhome.com.