Robert C. Parks

Robert’s Journey Born on January 31, 1941, the first child of the late George S. Parks and Verlee Stitt Parks in Charlotte, North Carolina, Robert C. Parks departed this life on January 14, 2026. He was preceded in death by his infant sister, Alicia Mae Parks and his beloved grandparents, Sandy and Mazie Stitt Porter and Sanders and Maggie Woods Parks. Robert attended Myers Street Elementary School and was a proud class of 1959 graduate from Second Ward High School, the first high school in the city of Charlotte for black students. At Second Ward, he was an honor student and a star player on the baseball and basketball teams. He continued his education at North Carolina College at Durham (currently North Carolina Central University) and later at UNC-Charlotte. He was united in matrimony to his high school sweetheart, Martha Marion McCrory on April 20, 1962 and from this union three children were born, Tammy, Selina and Robert Jr. Robert enjoyed watching college and professional football and basketball with his family. He loved spending time with family, listening to all types of music, and traveling with family and friends. He had a wealth of knowledge and could speak on many subjects, which led people to gravitate to him to engage in conversation, debates, and discussions. An avid reader with a curious mind, he would read everything from candy wrappers and product labels to poetry and zealously played Jeopardy and watched the history and travel channels. In the early 60’s, Robert was the first person of color to be hired by a major insurance company in the south, the Life Insurance Company of Georgia. He had to wait three weeks for another colleague of color to share a room with to begin training in Atlanta. He was assigned to sell life insurance to people of color in the greater Charlotte area. He later worked as a recruiter for the antipoverty program for the Charlotte Area Fund. In 2003 he retired from the City of Charlotte after 26 years of service as an Outreach and Recruitment Counselor where he worked on the job training program encouraging and mentoring people in the community to get the education, and training they needed to help them find employment and better their lives. After retirement from the City of Charlotte, he was a poll worker for the Mecklenburg County Board of Election. A member of The Park Church, after retirement he volunteered his time in their food pantry. His desire to stay active led him to became a member of the Stratford Richardson YMCA in 2007 the same year the establishment was opened for membership. He was a life member of the Second Ward High School National Alumni Foundation and was very supportive of its quest to keep the spirit of his alma mater alive. In 2009 he was elected the first president of the Second Ward and West Charlotte Men’s Breakfast Club. Under his leadership the group grew from nine founders to over one hundred members. During his tenure the group provided financial support in the community where and donated thousands of dollars to the Second Ward National Alumni Foundation and West Charlotte High School Alumni Association’s scholarship fund. In 2020, he resigned from the office of president due to declining health and was unanimously elected President Emeritus by the group. He leaves behind to cherish his memories his wife of 63 years, Martha McCrory Parks; three children, Tammy A. Morris (Felix), Selina L. Parks and Robert C. Parks, Jr., all of Charlotte, NC; two biological grandchildren, Whitney A. Ward (Denzel) of Edenton, NC and Robert C. Parks, III of Wingate, NC; two biological great-grandchildren, Bella Gizelle Ward and Chantz Ezra Ward of Edenton, NC. Three guardian grandchildren, Quatisha Hall, Ta’mi Kamil Wilkinson-Hall and Dylan Emmett Haynes of Stanley, NC. Two godchildren, Renee and Paris Carlton of Charlotte, NC. One brother, George S. Parks (Mary Jo) of Charlotte, NC; two nephews, Gregory A. Parks (Arlicia) of Columbia, SC and George A. Parks of Charlotte, NC, two great nephews, William and Jonathan Parks of Columbia, SC, two sisters-in-laws, Hazeline McCrory of Philadelphia, PA and Delores Young (Wilbert) of Charlotte, NC and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends.

Robert C. Parks

January 31, 1941 - January 14, 2026