Raymond Matthew Parker

RAYMOND MATTHEW PARKER, sixty-one, son of the late Earl and Elois Brooks Parker, passed quietly into Spirit in the early morning hours of September 7, 2013 at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. The third of four siblings, he was born on November 18, 1951 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. As a young boy, he enjoyed playing ball on the neighborhood playground and mixed an easy athleticism with an early interest in music. His interest in the piano was sparked by watching his older sister, Joyce, studying and taking her piano lessons. By the time he was fourteen, it was apparent to all, that he had a special talent. He began studying piano at the Peabody Conservatory Preparatory. Later as a high school student at Northwestern High School, he was selected to receive a scholarship to the Preparatory, where he studied piano, theory, voice and choral music. This experience caused him to decide to become a music major during his college years. Entering the Community College of Baltimore, Raymond became a student of piano as well as voice. Upon receiving the Associate of Arts Degree in music at this institution, Raymond matriculated at Towson State University on a scholarship as a Music Education Major with a piano concentration. While at Towson, he studied in the studio of the nationally acclaimed concert pianist Reynaldo Reyes. Upon his graduation from Towson University with the Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education, Raymond became a music educator in the Baltimore City Public Schools. His tenure in the public schools afforded him the opportunity to touch the lives of many students. Raymond encouraged many of these students to pursue degrees in music, follow avocations in music and/or become adults, who appreciated all genres of music. During the years of his employment in the Baltimore City Public Schools, Raymond was also a piano instructor in the Urban Services Cultural Arts Project, where he taught piano to students all over the city in an afterschool program. Unfortunately, Raymond’s tenure with the Baltimore City Public Schools ended with the downsizing of teachers. Many music teachers’ jobs were terminated. Raymond’s tenacity and fortitude did not allow him to be struck down. He then became an instructor in music at the Community College of Baltimore, where he taught piano, voice class methods and music appreciation. Raymond had a love for working with the students of the Baltimore City Public Schools and he decided, while teaching at the Community College of Baltimore, that he wanted to continue to serve the students of the public schools. He was informed that the public school system had not downsized the counseling department, so he decided to reinvent himself and to matriculate in the Johns Hopkins University, where he earned the Masters of Education in Public School Counseling. At the university, he was an outstanding student and following graduation, he became a guidance counselor in the Baltimore Public Schools. In his quest to continue to serve students of the public schools, Raymond became an outstanding counselor at Lemmel Junior High School, Calverton Middle School, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and Walbrook Senior High School. During these years, Raymond was asked to serve in leadership capacities on several system-wide committees relating to counseling for the entire city. It goes without saying that he was highly successful in these leadership roles, receiving commendations from city and school administrators. On Sundays, Raymond was always found “on the bench” as he would state, because he served as Minister of Music at several churches in the Baltimore metropolitan area. His most recent tenure as Minister of Music was at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, where he was known for and enjoyed bringing to the congregants such beautiful music by wonderfully talented vocalists at the Sunday morning worship services. Raymond was a member of this church and served as Minister of Music up to the time of his demise. While working at Walbrook Senior High School, Raymond became ill and found it necessary to retire from the Baltimore City Schools, however his retirement did not deter this man of great strength, faith, fortitude and tenacity. Upon his retirement “Ray,” as he was known to his family and friends, was then able to devote all of his energies to his first love and passion, MUSIC. Raymond then became active as the pianist with the Parker, Barkley and Mays Trio, a piano adjudicator for the Prince Georges County Public Schools, a piano recitalist, the chairperson for the annual performance competition of the Baltimore Music Club, Inc. (an organization of which he was a very active member), a private piano instructor, and a vocal coach and accompanist for many of Baltimore’s vocal artists, many of whom he prepared for national performance experiences. Raymond was an outstanding musician whose love of music caused him to be involved in many musical activities. He not only was a performer, but he was also an avid “concert goer” and could be seen regularly at the popular concert venues of our city. While in attendance at these concerts, he was always recognized by and engaged in conversation with the most outstanding of Baltimore’s musicians who respected him highly. Raymond, loved people! He was always giving of himself, his resources, time and his love, never expecting anything in return. Raymond was a GREAT MAN of integrity and faith, who was loved and highly respected by all that he met. His faith in the Almighty was paramount in his life and he often shared his story regarding the trials and tribulations of his illness, always giving thanks to God for all that he had done and was doing for him. One of his greatest testimonies is found in this paraphrase of a prayer that he penned while lying in his hospital bed during one of his many hospitalizations. “Lord I am Your child and this body is Your making and it belongs to You. I believe in You and therefore I am alright with whatever You decide to do with this body.” Raymond was an inspiration to everyone. We are all better people for knowing him and having had him pass our way. Raymond Matthew Parker will be sorely missed by all of us and his memory is marked indelibly in our hearts. Raymond is survived by: his sister, Joyce Cox; step-nephew, Sylvester Cox; cousins, Denise Harvey Barksdale, Janet Thompson Smith (Hugh), William Thompson, Jr. and Marvin “Doc” Cheatham; and a host of other relatives, devoted godchildren and many very close friends.

Tributes

Raymond Matthew Parker

November 18, 1951 - September 7, 2013