Doris Lillian Parke, 81, of Lake Park, died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at the Langdale Hospice House in Valdosta. She was born in Savannah, Georgia on October 26, 1935 to the late Charles and Ruby Freeman Garrard. She lived in Jacksonville, Florida for several years where she received an Associate’s Degree and worked as a Dental Assistant for Dr. Dale Edwards. In her mid 20’s she met her soul mate Carlton Herschel “Pinkie” Parke, Sr. and soon after became a mom to Carlton Herschel Parke, Jr. and Kelly Parke Clifford. In the early 1980’s her family moved to Fitzgerald, Georgia. She loved cooking and baking with her sweet friend the late Gynell Merritt, and she started a Meals on Wheels program through her church, Northside Baptist Church in Fitzgerald. She served many meals to the sick and shut-ins in Fitzgerald. After the death of her husband, she moved to Lake Park to reside close to her daughter, Kelly and shower her grandchildren with love and affection. Mrs. Parke was a member of a Lake Park Bunco group. She loved cooking for them and they were very special to her. She has a special friend, Robin Weisse who helped her and spent many hours visiting her when she became homebound.
Survivors include one son and daughter in law, Carlton, Jr. and Christie Parke of LaGrange, GA; one daughter and son in law, Kelly Parke Clifford and Fred Clifford of Lake Park, GA; four grandchildren, Parker Roberts, Brody Roberts, Sam Clifford, Sophie Parke; two brothers and a sister in law, Roscoe Garrard of Jacksonville, FL, Frankie and Gail Garrard of Mayo, FL; one sister and brother in law, Margaret Garrard Johnson and Johnny Johnson of Ludowici, GA; sister in law and brother in law, Sue and Jimmy Roberts of Anderson, SC. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Carlton H. (Pinkie) Parke, Sr.; three brothers, Charles Garrard, Jr., George Garrard, Sam Garrard and two sisters, Louise Malloy and Mary Ingram.
Funeral services will be held at 11am, Saturday, January 21, 2017 in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home, 2215 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31602 with Rev. Isaac Salgado officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday from 5-7pm at the Carson McLane Funeral Home. A private burial will be held at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made in her memory to the Langdale Hospice House, 2263 Pineview Drive, Valdosta, GA 31602. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.