Ethel Lee Parker

It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Ethel Lee Parker, a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, who peacefully departed this life on April 8, 2026, at the age of 76. Ethel was born on March 14, 1950, in Birmingham, Alabama, to the late John and Carrol Jones, who cherished her dearly. The daughter of John and Carrol, Ethel was nurtured in a family filled with laughter, warmth, and the values of hard work and kindness. She was predeceased by her devoted husband, James Parker, and her parents, John and Sarah Womack, as well as numerous brothers and sisters who have gone before her. Ethel spent her formative years in Birmingham, where she developed a lifelong love for her community and family. She was known for her warm smile, generous spirit, and unwavering dedication to those she loved. Her life was a testament to kindness and service, always putting others before herself. Ethel was a woman of many talents and passions. She was a nurturing soul who found joy in the simple pleasures of life—gardening, cooking, and sharing her love of literature with her family. Her home was a haven of warmth and welcome, where the aroma of her famous Southern dishes lingered, and laughter was a constant companion. Family was at the heart of Ethel’s life. She was the loving mother to her cherished children and took immense pride in her role as a grandmother. Her granddaughter, Blake Jones, was the light of her life, and Ethel’s eyes would sparkle with joy whenever she spoke of her. Ethel's legacy of love and resilience will continue through Alena and all those who were fortunate enough to be enveloped in her affection. Ethel is survived by her devoted brothers, Angelo King, and Darius and Dalton Jones, who will forever remember her as their guiding star. She was predeceased by her parents, John (Jay) and Carrol Jones, whose reunion in the afterlife is a comforting thought to all who knew their closeness. Her extended family includes many who felt the warmth of her embrace and the kindness of her heart. Her addition family, Valencia Massey, Coritha Jones, Earlean Rollins, Angelo Nelson, Frederick Massey, and Richard Walls, were the pillars of her upbringing, and their influence was evident in her every action. Her aunts, Nakendra Massey, Katina Nunnally, Andrea Williamson, Keshia Handley, Pauletta Brown, Antonia Nelson, April Rollins Kyle, and Theta Rollins, along with her uncles, Victor Massey, Stacy Nunnally, and Harold Franklin, were an integral part of her life’s journey. Ethel’s life was also enriched by the bonds she forged with her special cousins, Valerien Brown, Kyler Massey, and Christi (Kelvin) Culpepper-Walker, who will carry forward the love and laughter they shared. Ethel Lee Parker will be remembered as a beacon of love and compassion, a woman who touched the lives of many with her generous heart and unwavering spirit. Her legacy will live on in the stories shared, the lessons taught, and the love that continues to bind her family and friends together. A celebration of Ethel’s life will be held in Birmingham, where family and friends will gather to honor her remarkable journey and the indelible mark she has left on their hearts. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to a charity of your choice in Ethel’s memory, reflecting her lifelong commitment to helping others. May Ethel rest in eternal peace, forever remembered and deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.