Tina W Parker

TINA WHALEY PAKER slipped away after a short illness on Thursday, August 5, 2010 for a better place, leaving those whom she knew and touched the richer, for to know her was to experience the love of God in action. The daughter of the late Simon K and Parnell F. Whaley, Tina was born on June 26, 1928 Orangeburg, South Carolina, a town that stressed education and culture, having two colleges with a fence between them. After graduation from high school, Tina enrolled at Bennett College, an all girls’ school in Greensboro, North Carolina, and later transferred to Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. After earning her Bachelor of Arts form Morgan in June 1950, she started working at Fairfield Center for the Baltimore City Bureau of Recreation. After Fairfield, Tina worked at Gwynns Falls Elementary-P.S. 60, then Cahill Recreation Centers. She retired from Recreation in 1994 after an illustrious career spanning nearly forty years devoted to serving Baltimore’s children, youth, and young adults, many of whom attended and well remember their days at her Hanlon Park Day Camp in northwest Baltimore. Tina gave everyone the gift of herself. She touched many lives and left an indelible mark on the City’s Department of Recreation and Parks. On July 3, 1950, Tina Whaley was united in holy matrimony with Charles T. Parker, III. From this union were two children, Robin and Charles Gary. She loved her family, her work, her home, and her poodles, and she was a firm and guiding force as related to family unity. Tina believed that children are most precious and must be taught principles and values, be educated, trained and exposed to a variety of positive activities in order to make wise choices in later life. A long-time Ashburton area resident and association member, Tina was thrilled in December 2003 to earn third-place “Best House” honors for her holiday decorations. Gifted with humility, Tina W. Parker never sounded the trumpet for her works, leadership and dedication, which have been acknowledged through many awards and accolades including: Hanlon’s Dedicated Leader Award (1978); Employee of the Month Award (1983); Mayoral Citation for Community Service (1985); Recreation Pioneers Hall of Fame Inductee (1985); Gubernatorial Citation for Community Service (1989); Fairmount Neighborhood Association Award of Appreciation (1991); Outstanding Service Award (1995). Tina leaves to cherish her memory and remember with love her life- worthy of celebration: beloved husband of sixty years, Charles T. Parker devoted daughter, Dr. Robin Parker Cox and her husband James; devoted son Charles G. Parker and his wife Michelle; and grandson, Charles M. Parker; faithful sister-in-law, Barbara P. Whaley; nieces, Dolores W. Gisentaner, Lurana M. Bringier, Lynn W. Jeffries. D’Anza B. Hudson and Mary P. Whaley; nephew, Thomas M. Whaley, Fraun Bringier, Vastine W. Pettis, Dr. Samuel R. Pettis and Dr. Roderick W. Pettis. Tina is also survived by a host of grand and great-grandnieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives, friends and colleagues. Tina Whaley Parker was preceded in death by her twin brother, Thomas Major Whaley, and her sisters, Parnell Whaley Bringier, Ellsworth Whaley Rhetta and Dr. Vastyne Whaley Pettis Jackson.

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Tina W Parker

June 26, 1928 - August 5, 2010