Kay Shelby Parkins

Obituary On January 19, 2021 God saw fit to call from this earthly life our mother, our cousin, and our friend, Kay Shelby Parkins. Kay was born July 4, 1949 to Jeanette and Clarence Parkins. Kay was also the proud step-daughter of Hank Green. She grew up in Brooklyn and obtained her high school diploma from the New York City Department of Education. She lived in Brooklyn for many years in the neighborhoods of Bedford- Stuyvesant and East New York. She is the proud mother of Malcolm and Dawn Parkins. Kay loved life and she enjoyed having a good time. She enjoyed spending time with her friends and family. She loved good folks and great food. Kay looked forward to attending her family reunion in Hurt, Va. She especially loved all the homecooked delicacies like homemade peach cobbler, corn pudding, turnip greens and fried chicken wings (her favorite). Kay savored every morsel of a well-cooked meal, which was evident by the faces she made while eating and the time it would take her to finish her plate. Some of her favorite foods were crab legs, crab, lobster, conch, clams, crab salad, frog legs (from Coney Island- Nathan’s) and all types of desserts. Kay worked for many years in Brooklyn Botanical Garden as an Administrative Assistant. She was later promoted to Administrative Assistant to the President. She worked there for over 20 years. Her daily exposure to these gifts of nature infused her love of plants and flowers. Kay’s “green thumb” was evident on her terrace when she lived in Brooklyn. After retiring from Brooklyn Botanical Garden she decided to leave New York and head south with her two children to make North Carolina their home. She would once again be reunited with her lifelong friend Dorothy (Dot) who also moved from New York. Kay also brought her plants (her babies) to North Carolina where she created a beautiful sunroom full of greenery. Kay had an affinity for pets. She loved and spoiled her cat, Diamond and dog, Cleo which have preceded her. However, her dog Coco currently misses her presence. Kay also loved children and although she retired, she started another career in North Carolina. She worked in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School District. The students and staff loved “Ms. Parkins”. She had a witty sense of humor and the students often referred to her as “grandma” because of the love that she showed them. She partnered up with and befriended DiMetria Williams who became a confident and another “daughter” to Kay. While living in North Carolina Kay joined Victory Christian Center where she gave her life to the Lord. She enjoyed hearing her Senior Pastor Gool preach. She also enjoyed sitting with her pew sisters. Despite how she was feeling physically she made every effort to attend regularly, to the best of her abilities. She was preceded in death by her parents: Clarence Parkins, Jeanette and Hank Green, aunts: Frances Bristol, Mary Banks, Marilyn Stone and Gracie Hunt, uncles: Thomas “Pete”, Luke, George Jr. “Jack”, Charlie, and Calvin Hunt. She leaves to cherish her memories: Dawn and Malcolm Parkins, four generations of cousins, her life-long friends Dorothy (Dot) and Theron Reavis-Bey. Her “other daughters” Raquel Sanon and DiMetria Williams, and a host of family and friends who will greatly miss her.

Kay Shelby Parkins

July 4, 1949 - January 21, 2021