A beautiful life came to an end on the evening of February 9, 2014 as Paul Lincoln Parker, 98, passed away at his home in Water Valley, MS. Born July 29, 1915 in Amite County, MS, the third of four children to Joseph and Susie Parker, his family moved from location to location during his childhood in search of the next best opportunity. Along the way, he attended grammar school at Pineville and high school at Long Beach High School before graduating from Macon High School in 1933.
It was in 1936 that he became a businessman when he leased a storefront in the town of York, AL and opened a 5&10 cent store. A year later, a lost lease forced him to search out a new location for his merchandise business. It was that fateful event in 1937 that brought him to Water Valley, MS to open a Ben Franklin 5&10 cent store, in the building that is currently the BTC Grocery. This was the second of many profitable and successful business enterprises in his life. He operated his Ben Franklin store until he sold it in 1974, renting the space to the TWL discount store. He often spoke of missing his store, but he cherished the weekends he now had to spend with his family. He even once turned down an opportunity to join Sam Walton in a little business venture Sam was working on in the 60's, with zero regret.
He met the love of his life, Charlotte Todd, while in Water Valley. On a blind date set up by a mutual friend, the evening began on a rocky note as they each got the pre-established meeting location confused and each thought themselves "stood-up". But they soon found each other that evening and that was the beginning of their eight month courtship and 73 years of marriage before she preceded him in death on March 16, 2013.
Paul was a veteran of WWII, serving the US Army in the 1390th Engineering Forestry Company in the European theater. He made many friends within his unit, and each Christmas, until 2009, he wrote an annual letter to the surviving members of the 1390th. In the late 1970's he hosted a large reunion in Water Valley, for the members of the 1390th. In 1979 he and Charlotte retraced his wartime movements in Germany, renting a car, and locating several of the "locals" he acquired as friends while stationed there during the war. Some of his most interesting and animated stories were of the war. But you could always tell he lost a small piece of himself while away, judging by the way his sparkling blue eyes would get softer and a little distant when he paused during the oral recollection.
He was Postmaster of the Water Valley Post Office from 1955 until he retired from the office in 1987. After retiring from the Post Office, he opened an office above his old Ben Franklin store where he was an investment consultant to some of the Water Valley constituents until he moved his office computer to his home on Dupuy Street in 2003, his home for over 75 years.
Paul was a Rotarian and holds the undisputed Rotarian world record for Perfect Attendance, attending weekly meetings for 77 years and 9 months. In Paul and Charlotte's many overseas travels, he kept up his streak of perfect attendance by visiting the local Rotary chapters in the countries they were visiting.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Water Valley where he was as a Deacon, serving many rotations as a former Chairman of the Deacons and as Usher Chairman until he stepped down in 2008. He was a kind and gentle husband, a caring father, and a loving grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be truly missed by all that knew him.
Surviving relatives include two grandsons, John Parker Turnipseed of Chicago, IL, and Harris Todd Turnipseed of Louisville, MS, and two great-grandchildren, James Brady Turnipseed and Anna Parker Turnipseed.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Charlotte, his daughter Nancy Parker Turnipseed, two brothers, Joe and Ray Parker, and one sister, Helen.
Visitation will be held Februaray 14, 2014 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Water Valley, MS. Funeral services will be held immediately following the visitation at 2:00 pm at the church with Dr. Randy Bain officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley, MS.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Water Valley, P. O. Box 1472, Water Valley, MS 38965.