Bessie Mae Parker, Rapides Parish Louisiana Submitted by Jane Parker McManus Date: November 3, 2009 ************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************** 10/31/2009 - With Picture (New Orleans Times Picayune and Alexandria Daily Town Talk) PARKER Bessie Mae Parker (nee Cassady) passed away on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at Canon Hospice in New Orleans, LA. She was the beloved wife of 68 years to the late Jackson (Jack) Garland Parker and daughter of the late Famie Clyde and Joseph Elmer Cassady of Robeline and Zimmerman, LA. She was the Mother of Dr. Donald Ray Parker (wife Gayle) of Elkhart, IN, Elmer Wayne Parker (wife Sue) of Boyce, LA, and Dr. Becky Parker Lombard of New Orleans, LA. She was the Grandmother of Jon Todd Parker of Northbrook, IL; Shawn Wayne Parker of Shreveport, LA; Misty Diona Ryder of Boyce, LA; Parker Ray Lombard of Gonzalez, LA; and Famie Malinda Watwood of Scottsboro, AL. She was also the Great-Grandmother of Kassady and Kessler Ryder; Emma, Molly, and Henry Parker; Hudson Lombard; Mattie Watwood; Josie Parker; and Tyler, Drake and Makayla Foster. Bessie Mae was the sister of Hazel Elizabeth Cassady Guest of Liberty, TX (deceased), Janie Elouise Cassady Michal Fuller of Pineville, LA (deceased); Opal Azima Cassady Moore of Shreveport, LA; Joseph Elmer Cassady, Jr. of Zimmerman, LA(deceased); Jacquelyn Cassady Miller of Houston, TX (deceased); and James Marvin Cassady of Tyler, TX. Bessie Mae was 86 years of age, a native of Robeline, LA, and for the past 44 years a resident of Terrytown, LA . Besides being a loving wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother, she was a dedicated and productive member of the Southern Baptist Church. At several Baptist churches across south Louisiana, she served as a choir member, Sunday School teacher, church volunteer, and Vacation Bible school volunteer and Director, among other roles. She was a 50+ year member and leader in the Baptist Women’s Missionary Union (WMU), including serving as the President of the Louisiana Baptist Association WMU. For over 50 years she served in the Ladies Auxiliary of the Gideon’s International. She volunteered for over 30 years at the Southern Baptist Hospital in New Orleans; working in countless roles including receptionist, hospital gift store clerk and manager, surgical waiting room receptionist, and was President of the Southern Baptist Hospital Volunteers Association for several years. Along with her husband Jack Parker, she served as a committed supporter and volunteer of the Global Maritime Ministries. Her life was one of committed and loving church and community service. Bessie Mae was an dedicated home maker and Mother, an accomplished painter and crafts person, and a person of consummate love and commitment to family. For over 30 years she carefully and doggedly researched and documented the history and genealogy of her family in libraries and archives all over Louisiana. Interestingly, she was a rabid (with a capital R) LSU fan, attending many and watching all LSU football and baseball games. Also, as a high school senior at Boyce High School in 1940, she was the shortstop on a softball team which won a Louisiana State Softball Championship. Pall Bearers will be Todd Parker, Shawn Parker, Parker Lombard, Keith Ryder, Joey Wolfe, Ronnie Roberts, J.N. Sanders, and Phillip Vandercook. Friends and relatives are invited to attend a funeral service at the Martin Chapel of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS), 3939 Gentilly Boulevard in New Orleans on Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 3 PM. A visitation will be held at Martin Chapel (NOBTS) from 1-1:30 for family and 1:30-3 PM for friends. A graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn Cemetery (US 165) in Pineville, LA on Monday, November 18, 2009 at 11 AM. The family sincerely requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to either the Jack and Bessie Mae Parker Music Scholarship Fund at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (3939 Gentilly Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70126, Attn: NOBTS Development Office) or to the Global Maritime Ministries (PO Box 750787, New Orleans, LA 70175). Mothe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, 504-366-4343.