The Darien News
Ray Thomas Parker, 67, crossed his earthly threshold into God’s hands on January 19, 2017. He was comforted by the physical and emotional presence of his friends and family, along with the precious hands of the local hospital’s 5th floor medical staff and Heartland Hospice.
He was employed by the state of Georgia, serving as McIntosh County’s Emergency Management Director for 24 years. Until retiring this year on Jan. 12, due to his declining health. There he gained the respect from his peers across state and locally for his well-carved experience in handling disasters and crises with finesse and efficiency. He was instrumental in writing and gaining the grant monies to build a state-of-the-art 911 building that serves to this day as the “bunker” when disaster hits. He was the “go-to” person for equipment acquisition in the city/county law enforcement, fire department, road works, knowing the in’s and out’s of negotiating the best price under constant budgetary constraints.
He was famous for his Low Country Boil every year for his GEMA peers in December making that monthly turnout the best of the year. He was active in the local American Legion #137, serving several leadership positions over the years. He cared very deeply for his country. He regularly orchestrated the Boston Butt fundraisers, spending long hours over the heat of the smokers. Additionally, he served in the McIntosh County Volunteer Fire Department for 41 years, retiring in 2016. He was a long-time member, choir director and Sunday School teacher at Crescent Baptist Church. He dedicated his life to serving McIntosh County in any capacity upon which he was called.
Ray was born in Aiken, S.C. on Feb. 5, 1949, to Mary Louise Howard and George Robert Parker, who predeceased him in death, along with a grandson, Johnathan Nathaniel; a brother, George Edward Parker; and a stepbrother. He was raised in the Augusta, Ga. area, where he ultimately met and wed Miss Sarah Stanford Hawthorne.
He and his family were drawn to the Mcintosh County, Georgia area, where he lived with his close companion Jean until his death. His family continues to reside in the area as well. He was blessed to enjoy his family and friends who survive him, including two sons, David Mack Parker Hawthorne and Daniel Thomas Parker Hawthorne; a granddaughter, Olivia Katherine Hawthorne; siblings, Cecil Jason (Harriette) Parker, Donald Albert (Sylvia) Parker, and James Ervin (Carolyn) Parker; 2 stepsisters and a stepbrother. Also surviving are his companion and friend, Jean Tinnin; and confidante and friends, Ty Poppell and Bill Williams. He will be forever missed in this community for his evenness of character. His humor and wit were unmatched with trademark sayings of “Whatever!” and “Just sayin!”
A memorial service will be held at the Northside Fire Station on Hwy. 17 on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 11 a.m., with Rev. Bill Brown and Rev. Wesley Deverger officiating. A celebration of his life will follow at the Northside Fire Station with light refreshments and food.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the McIntosh County Volunteer Fire Department in his memory, or a charity of choice. Many thanks to our friends, the medical community, local clergy, all branches of McIntosh County/City of Darien, GEMA friends and coworkers.
Ray Thomas Parker, 67, crossed his earthly threshold into God’s hands on January 19, 2017. He was comforted by the physical and emotional presence of his friends and family, along with the precious hands of the local hospital’s 5th floor medical staff and Heartland Hospice.
He was employed by the state of Georgia, serving as McIntosh County’s Emergency Management Director for 24 years. Until retiring this year on Jan. 12, due to his declining health. There he gained the respect from his peers across state and locally for his well-carved experience in handling disasters and crises with finesse and efficiency. He was instrumental in writing and gaining the grant monies to build a state-of-the-art 911 building that serves to this day as the “bunker” when disaster hits. He was the “go-to” person for equipment acquisition in the city/county law enforcement, fire department, road works, knowing the in’s and out’s of negotiating the best price under constant budgetary constraints.
He was famous for his Low Country Boil every year for his GEMA peers in December making that monthly turnout the best of the year. He was active in the local American Legion #137, serving several leadership positions over the years. He cared very deeply for his country. He regularly orchestrated the Boston Butt fundraisers, spending long hours over the heat of the smokers. Additionally, he served in the McIntosh County Volunteer Fire Department for 41 years, retiring in 2016. He was a long-time member, choir director and Sunday School teacher at Crescent Baptist Church. He dedicated his life to serving McIntosh County in any capacity upon which he was called.
Ray was born in Aiken, S.C. on Feb. 5, 1949, to Mary Louise Howard and George Robert Parker, who predeceased him in death, along with a grandson, Johnathan Nathaniel; a brother, George Edward Parker; and a stepbrother. He was raised in the Augusta, Ga. area, where he ultimately met and wed Miss Sarah Stanford Hawthorne.
He and his family were drawn to the Mcintosh County, Georgia area, where he lived with his close companion Jean until his death. His family continues to reside in the area as well. He was blessed to enjoy his family and friends who survive him, including two sons, David Mack Parker Hawthorne and Daniel Thomas Parker Hawthorne; a granddaughter, Olivia Katherine Hawthorne; siblings, Cecil Jason (Harriette) Parker, Donald Albert (Sylvia) Parker, and James Ervin (Carolyn) Parker; 2 stepsisters and a stepbrother. Also surviving are his companion and friend, Jean Tinnin; and confidante and friends, Ty Poppell and Bill Williams. He will be forever missed in this community for his evenness of character. His humor and wit were unmatched with trademark sayings of “Whatever!” and “Just sayin!”
A memorial service will be held at the Northside Fire Station on Hwy. 17 on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 11 a.m., with Rev. Bill Brown and Rev. Wesley Deverger officiating. A celebration of his life will follow at the Northside Fire Station with light refreshments and food.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the McIntosh County Volunteer Fire Department in his memory, or a charity of choice. Many thanks to our friends, the medical community, local clergy, all branches of McIntosh County/City of Darien, GEMA friends and coworkers.
The Darien News
Ray Thomas Parker, 67, crossed his earthly threshold into God’s hands on January 19, 2017. He was comforted by the physical and emotional presence of his friends and family, along with the precious hands of the local hospital’s 5th floor medical staff and Heartland Hospice.
He was employed by the state of Georgia, serving as McIntosh County’s Emergency Management Director for 24 years. Until retiring this year on Jan. 12, due to his declining health. There he gained the respect from his peers across state and locally for his well-carved experience in handling disasters and crises with finesse and efficiency. He was instrumental in writing and gaining the grant monies to build a state-of-the-art 911 building that serves to this day as the “bunker” when disaster hits. He was the “go-to” person for equipment acquisition in the city/county law enforcement, fire department, road works, knowing the in’s and out’s of negotiating the best price under constant budgetary constraints.
He was famous for his Low Country Boil every year for his GEMA peers in December making that monthly turnout the best of the year. He was active in the local American Legion #137, serving several leadership positions over the years. He cared very deeply for his country. He regularly orchestrated the Boston Butt fundraisers, spending long hours over the heat of the smokers. Additionally, he served in the McIntosh County Volunteer Fire Department for 41 years, retiring in 2016. He was a long-time member, choir director and Sunday School teacher at Crescent Baptist Church. He dedicated his life to serving McIntosh County in any capacity upon which he was called.
Ray was born in Aiken, S.C. on Feb. 5, 1949, to Mary Louise Howard and George Robert Parker, who predeceased him in death, along with a grandson, Johnathan Nathaniel; a brother, George Edward Parker; and a stepbrother. He was raised in the Augusta, Ga. area, where he ultimately met and wed Miss Sarah Stanford Hawthorne.
He and his family were drawn to the Mcintosh County, Georgia area, where he lived with his close companion Jean until his death. His family continues to reside in the area as well. He was blessed to enjoy his family and friends who survive him, including two sons, David Mack Parker Hawthorne and Daniel Thomas Parker Hawthorne; a granddaughter, Olivia Katherine Hawthorne; siblings, Cecil Jason (Harriette) Parker, Donald Albert (Sylvia) Parker, and James Ervin (Carolyn) Parker; 2 stepsisters and a stepbrother. Also surviving are his companion and friend, Jean Tinnin; and confidante and friends, Ty Poppell and Bill Williams. He will be forever missed in this community for his evenness of character. His humor and wit were unmatched with trademark sayings of “Whatever!” and “Just sayin!”
A memorial service will be held at the Northside Fire Station on Hwy. 17 on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 11 a.m., with Rev. Bill Brown and Rev. Wesley Deverger officiating. A celebration of his life will follow at the Northside Fire Station with light refreshments and food.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the McIntosh County Volunteer Fire Department in his memory, or a charity of choice. Many thanks to our friends, the medical community, local clergy, all branches of McIntosh County/City of Darien, GEMA friends and coworkers.
Ray Thomas Parker, 67, crossed his earthly threshold into God’s hands on January 19, 2017. He was comforted by the physical and emotional presence of his friends and family, along with the precious hands of the local hospital’s 5th floor medical staff and Heartland Hospice.
He was employed by the state of Georgia, serving as McIntosh County’s Emergency Management Director for 24 years. Until retiring this year on Jan. 12, due to his declining health. There he gained the respect from his peers across state and locally for his well-carved experience in handling disasters and crises with finesse and efficiency. He was instrumental in writing and gaining the grant monies to build a state-of-the-art 911 building that serves to this day as the “bunker” when disaster hits. He was the “go-to” person for equipment acquisition in the city/county law enforcement, fire department, road works, knowing the in’s and out’s of negotiating the best price under constant budgetary constraints.
He was famous for his Low Country Boil every year for his GEMA peers in December making that monthly turnout the best of the year. He was active in the local American Legion #137, serving several leadership positions over the years. He cared very deeply for his country. He regularly orchestrated the Boston Butt fundraisers, spending long hours over the heat of the smokers. Additionally, he served in the McIntosh County Volunteer Fire Department for 41 years, retiring in 2016. He was a long-time member, choir director and Sunday School teacher at Crescent Baptist Church. He dedicated his life to serving McIntosh County in any capacity upon which he was called.
Ray was born in Aiken, S.C. on Feb. 5, 1949, to Mary Louise Howard and George Robert Parker, who predeceased him in death, along with a grandson, Johnathan Nathaniel; a brother, George Edward Parker; and a stepbrother. He was raised in the Augusta, Ga. area, where he ultimately met and wed Miss Sarah Stanford Hawthorne.
He and his family were drawn to the Mcintosh County, Georgia area, where he lived with his close companion Jean until his death. His family continues to reside in the area as well. He was blessed to enjoy his family and friends who survive him, including two sons, David Mack Parker Hawthorne and Daniel Thomas Parker Hawthorne; a granddaughter, Olivia Katherine Hawthorne; siblings, Cecil Jason (Harriette) Parker, Donald Albert (Sylvia) Parker, and James Ervin (Carolyn) Parker; 2 stepsisters and a stepbrother. Also surviving are his companion and friend, Jean Tinnin; and confidante and friends, Ty Poppell and Bill Williams. He will be forever missed in this community for his evenness of character. His humor and wit were unmatched with trademark sayings of “Whatever!” and “Just sayin!”
A memorial service will be held at the Northside Fire Station on Hwy. 17 on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 11 a.m., with Rev. Bill Brown and Rev. Wesley Deverger officiating. A celebration of his life will follow at the Northside Fire Station with light refreshments and food.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the McIntosh County Volunteer Fire Department in his memory, or a charity of choice. Many thanks to our friends, the medical community, local clergy, all branches of McIntosh County/City of Darien, GEMA friends and coworkers.
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