Atha Ellen (Newton) Parker

CONCORD, NC - Atha Ellen Parker (née Newton), 101, of First Assembly Living Center, passed peacefully on the evening of Sunday, January 17th, 2021.

Born December 24, 1919, she was the daughter of the late William Burgin Newton and Bertha Marilda Buff Newton. She married Sherman Ray “S.R.” Parker of Concord, NC, on Dec. 12, 1936, after the two met while working at the cotton mills in downtown Concord. Their son Darryl was born in 1938. In 1944, S.R. left for the war, and Atha kept the homefires burning until his return in 1946. After a brief time living in Chase City, Virginia, the family settled in Concord and would remain there for the next 40 years. She studied at Charlotte College (now UNC Charlotte) and worked in retail and administrative positions in Concord. She finished her career at the Cabarrus County Tax Assessors Office, from which she retired in 1979.

Atha was a born-again Christian and a devout follower of Jesus Christ and the Word of God. She loved to sing songs of praise throughout her day. Her belief in God was a beacon for her family and her community and she often offered prayer at a moment’s notice with a holding of hands, a bowing of heads and a calling on her deep faith to help ease the struggle of others. She was a proud and accomplished homemaker, always ready for visitors at any time. She hosted family several times a year, including an annual family gathering for the Concord Christmas Parade. Atha was a Christmas Eve baby and enjoyed giving family an extra reason to celebrate the holiday season.

Atha was preceded in death by her husband Sherman Ray Parker (1916-2000), her son Darryl Newton Parker, Sr. (1938-1996), her three brothers, three sisters and their spouses. She was the last of her generation.

Survivors include her daughter-in-law and dedicated caregiver Caroline Seabrook Parker Williams of Concord; her grandson Darryl Newton Parker, Jr. and his daughter Olivia Grace Parker both of Warner, New Hampshire; her grandson Douglas Seabrook Parker of Raleigh, her granddaughter Hope Lynn Williams of Woodleaf, her granddaughter, Esther Caroline Scoggins and husband Kim Reid Scoggins of Matthews and their children, Ayla Faith Scoggins of Charlotte, Harmony Ellen Scoggins of Matthews, Darryl Timothy Scoggins and his wife Bayleigh and their daughter, Atha’s namesake and great-great-granddaughter, Atha Lynne Scoggins of Knoxville, TN,

Graveside services will be held at 2pm on Friday, January 22, 2021, at Carolina Memorial Park in Kannapolis.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the First Assembly Living Center, 160 Warren C Coleman Blvd N, Concord, NC 28027. Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.