Our Family History

Robert Asberry Parker son of Albert A and Harriet McCelland Parker met and married Lillian McClain Parker
daughter of Benjamin and Martha Reddick McClain. They were blessed with seventeen children - Novita and Silvo
died at a very early age. Lucille died at birth. New Haven (deceased), Corrine Parker Connor (deceased), Artrue
Brown (deceased), Charles Benjamin (deceased), Betty Parker Banks, Robert Franklin (deceased), Fred Lee (deceased), Carrie Parker Pulley, Margaret Parker Simmons (deceased), Tallie Lloyd (deceased), Vallie Parker Chen (deceased), Farley Rea, Willie Eugene(deceased), and Alonzo Dale. 

In 1956, Mother decided to have an annual family dinner with all her children and grandchildren. She felt the
family was scattering with children in the Army, married with their own families; college and working. In those
early days, Mother did most of the cooking and sometimes family members would bring a covered dish. Mom
and Dad always looked forward to all the children coming for dinner. 

Mom and Dad's offspring from fourteen children are forty-two grandchildren, over eighty great grandchildren,
and over thirty great great grandchildren. From Mom and Dad's front yard, our family dinner grew into a reunion
celebration, this year we celebrated our 65th year. We have moved to many places. Now we refect back for
the young who were not there during that time. We had Friday evening fish fries at the homes of Haven and
Farley. There were hayrides provided by Ole Rex (the horse) and roasted marshmallows on an open 􀃶re.
Then we began to incorporate the fish fry with our Saturday cookout. We began meeting on Friday evening at
someone's home for a Meet and Greet. The session was usually accompanied with good food, sometimes even
fried fish. Over the years we have met at the home of Judy and Gilbert, Farley and Agnes, Bert and Willie, Geraldine
and Nate, Jeff and Melendy, Tonya's, Tallie's, Vallie's, Betty Banks and Robert & Willie's on a Sunday evening
for an icecream social. 

In 2010, one hundred and eight family members met in Spartanburg, South Carolina hosted by the Margaret
Parker Simmons family. We had a great time with a meet and greet at her home on Friday evening and a cookout
in the park on Saturday. Sunday morning worship was at Silver Hill United Methodist Church followed by dinner
in their Living Life Center. 

When we reminicse back to the days when we would meet at Scott's Recreation Center, one can almost smell the
aroma coming from the kitchen with family women preparing; fried chicken, baked ham, potato salad, green
beans, corn, tomatoes, cantaloupe, and an array of beautiful delicious desserts. We would eat, and then go out
and play the after dinner softball game, tennis, volleyball, ping-pong and pitching horseshoes. The children
would play on the swings and in the North Carolina red clay dirt. You can only imagine what their clothes looked
like at the end of the day, prompting a wardrobe change for many. 

Some other places we have celebrated our reunion include Scotts Elementary School, Lakewood Park, JCPenney
Associates' Recreation Area on Lake Lookout, Statesville YMCA, Bristol Road Community Center, Caldwell Park
and the Bentley Center and at the UAW Local 3520 building. We worshipped once at Logan Presbyterian Church
in honor of Haven our oldest living member and again in 2013 in his memory. We have continued to worship at
Third Creek Baptist Church for Sunday school and morning worship. Dinner was held there until we outgrew the
space. Then Sunday dinner was held at Alexander Central High School for several years. Several times dinner was
held on Saturday with recreation. 

In the past the family reunion has enjoyed Monday excursion such as; day trips to the mountains with picnic
lunches and sight-seeing, recreation parks, Tweetsie Railroad (Boone, North Carolina), and Carowinds Amusement
Park (Charlotte, North Carolina). The family branched out and took various bus trips of three to 􀃶ve days
as well. Abingdon, Virginia in 1990 owas ur 􀃶rst trip, other trips were to Williamsburg, Virginia; Bush Gardens;
Charleston, South Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; Memphis, Tennessee; Jekyll Island, Georgia
and Savannah, Georgia. 

Humbly submitted by,
Carrie Parker Pulley
Historian