William (Bill) Riley Parks

William (Bill) Riley Parks William (Bill) Riley Parks, 97 peacefully passed into the loving arms of God at his residence in Newbern, Tennessee, on Saturday, March 15, 2025. He was surrounded by his loving family and wonderful care givers. He was a deeply loved and cherished husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather and a respected friend by all who knew him. Mr. Parks had many accomplishments in his long life, but the most important to his heart was his commitment of spreading God’s word to all who would listen. 

Born on February 18, 1928, in Newbern, Tennessee, he was the son of the late John Riley Parks and the late Ethel Wilson Parks. He was married to the love of his life, Geraldine Kelly Parks, for 77 wonderful years. Together they build a life centered on love, faith, and family. Nothing brought Mr. Parks more pride that his two children: Cather (Mike) Pence of Dyersburg and Johnny (Janice) Parks of Newbern. He adored his 7 grandchildren and was fondly known as DeDan to Josh Parks, Raney (Tyler) Orr, Will Parks, Ginger (Paul) Waddell, Jonathan (Kayla) Pence, Caitlin Pence, and Jordan (Matt) Emison). Mr. Parks was blessed to also have 11 great grandchildren added to his family over the years. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beautiful wife, Geraldine Kelly Parks, and his two sisters, Marjorie Ellen Parks Roth, and Mary Evelyn Parks Bennett, and brother John H. Parks. 

Mr. Parks was a life-long farmer, business owner, and property developer. He was hard- working, dependable, generous, and had a big heart for helping those who were in need. Mr. Parks was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on December 17, 1953, of the most Worshipful Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Tennessee as well as an active participant of the Order of the Eastern Star. Those who knew him, recognized he was a man who liked playing in the dirt on big machines. Planting and harvesting a crop, building a levee, or clearing timber from a piece of land, he was a master at handling a backhoe, bulldozer, combine, or tractor. He and his son, Johnny, have farmed the last 30 years together. Mr. Parks, along with his brother and son, Johnny, developed and built Crowne Pointe, one of the finest subdivisions in Dyer County. He spent months using those big machines he liked to operate to pave the way for Crowne Pointe. 

Mr. Parks has always had love, vision, and desire to improve his hometown of Newbern, as well as Dyer County, to make it a better place for the people to love. He is well remembered for saying, “I think Newbern is the greatest place in the world”. He loved Newbern and took great pride in serving as Newbern’s Alderman for 20 years where he strived to improve and do what was best for all the people and town he loved. He said he didn’t always make people happy, but he tried to do what was good for our town and community. He also served as Dyer County Road Superintendent during the 1960’s where he said he met a lot of Dyer County’s finest people. 

Mr. Parks’ favorite place in the world was to be working in the field, and his favorite place to gather and enjoy food and family second to home was Boyette’s, and his friends never tired of the story of his jitterbug dancing at Boyette’s to entertain the Shriners back in his teenage days. One of his family’s favorite stories is how he and his two sisters and brother piled on a horse every day and rode to Porter’s one room school where they would then send the horse back home. His grandchildren were shocked that he grew up as a young child with no television because there weren’t any, and the T-Model was the car he first remembered. 

Mr. Parks was a man of action, and some would say a man of strong-will. His family would say he was a force to be reckoned with. By those who loved and respected him, he was a man of his word and a man of strong faith who loved his Lord. His Life’s greatest achievement was the building of the Everlasting Church of God to honor the God he loved so much. He remained Pastor of his church until his health declined. His knowledge of the Bible was exceptional and his faith and belief steadfast to the end. His words, “Do What is Right” was a motto he followed with dedication. He will be deeply missed and forever cherished by his family and friends. His legacy of love, family, and faith will live on in the hearts of those who were blessed to know him. As he left this earthly life, his family are certain he heard the precious words, “Well done, thy good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord”.

Visitation will be held at Johnson-Williams Funeral Home on Monday, March 17, from 11:00 A.M. to 12:45 P.M. followed by a graveside service at Fairview Cemetery in Newbern, Tennessee. Officiating the service will be Perry Grills and Jeff Box. 

Honoring Mr. Parks as pallbearers will be Will Parks, Tyler Orr, Wade Perry, Paul Waddell, Eddie Ray Wilson, and Randy Boatright. Honorary pallbearers will be Josh Parks, Jimmy Howell, and Marshell Edwards. The family of Mr. Parks are forever grateful for the Hospice family and the wonderful care givers of GenCare for their tender, loving care they bestowed on Mr. Bill.

The family ask that memorial contributions be directed to the Community Bible Study, in honor of Mrs. Geraldine Kelly Parks. % Mrs. Claudia Carmichael, 842 Lattawoods Drive, Dyersburg, Tennessee 38024.

Online condolences may be made to the family at johnsonwilliamsfuneralhome.com. Johnson-Williams Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Williams (Bill) Riley Parks.

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