Joe L. Parker

A private celebration of life for Joe L. Parker will be held May 6th, 2023 in Coffeeville, Mississippi. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangements. Mr. Joe Parker, age 87, of Meridian, MS passed away Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Anderson Regional Medical Center. Joe Parker was born in Coffeeville, MS to Della Mae Williams Parker and Edgar Larice Parker. He grew up with his sisters Virginia and Elsie. In 1955, he graduated from Coffeeville High School on a Friday night and by Monday morning he had left for the Navy. This marked the beginning of a more than thirty-year career in the military. Not long after, he married Margaret Pace Parker whom he would love for over fifty years. During these decades, she brought home countless strays that he begrudgingly learned to love and cherish. Together, Joe and Margaret raised their two daughters, Melissa and Michelle. While working full time as an airplane mechanic and Master Sergeant for the Air Force, Joe attended Meridian Community College and earned his associate's degree. In 1994, he officially retired from the military. Retirement for Joe consisted of having weekly breakfasts at the local truck stop with his best friend Harold Akin and dutifully tending to his grandchildren, Ainsley and Gavin. He would share with them, and anyone who would listen, stories of growing up "dirt poor," traveling the world as a serviceman and why he loved his favorite plane, the J-3 Piper Cub. An avid reader of history and historical fiction, he frequently had his nose in a Louis L'Amour or Tom Clancy book. In his later years, he found great companionship and joy in his little yellow cat, Emily, whom he affectionately called "Miss Emma." Undoubtedly, Joe is overjoyed to be reunited with his parents, his sister Virginia, his best friend Harold, and others he has loved and lost along the way. Survivors include his sister, Elsie Shaw; daughters, Melissa Spellmeyer and Michelle Ash; grandchildren, Ainsley Ash, Gavin Ash, McCall Taylor, Lawrence Spellmeyer, and Alex Spellmeyer; and great-grandchildren, Annalise Taylor and Saxon Taylor. He was preceded in death by his sister, Virginia; his parents Della Mae and Edgar; his grandparents; and his best friend Harold Akin. He was joined by his wife, Margaret, who passed just three days later. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.