John C. Parker, age 76, of Murphy, died Friday, November 9, 2018 in a Clay County care center.  He was a native of Waycross, Georgia, but had lived in Jacksonville, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia before moving to Murphy 18 years ago.  John graduated from Waycross High School in 1960 and Jacksonville University in 1964.  John retired after working 30 years for Bell South.  He was an avid HAM radio operator and loved building radios (and everything else) from scratch. He was a member of Blairsville First Baptist Church. He loved his church and especially singing in the choir.  His love for music was contagious and usually got everyone around him singing along.  He had a great sense of humor and could make anyone laugh.  He was endeared as “Uncle John” and “Papaw”. He was a loving husband and wonderful father.

He was the son of the late J.C. and Lucy Morgan Parker.

Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Jean Mullen Parker; a daughter, Dawn Loftin and husband, Stephen of Marietta, Georgia; a son, Joel Parker and wife, Kathe of Jacksonville, Florida; a sister, Kathy Higgs and husband, Leo of Jacksonville, Florida; six grandchildren, Lucy, Emma, and Coleman Loftin, Kami, Jacob, and Kahlan Parker.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at Blairsville First Baptist Church with Rev. Fred Lodge officiating. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers were members of the Blairsville First Baptist Church Cornerstone Sunday School class. The interment was at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 16, 2018 in Arlington Park Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida with the Rev. Robbie Hinson officiating.

The family received friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy where the body remained until placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the services. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of John C. Parker to the American Cancer Society, 154 Milestone Way, Greenville, SC  29615.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.