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Mississippi College Trustee Zeita Tupper Parker Passes Away


Zeita Parker

A wonderful supporter of Mississippi College and university trustee, Zeita Tupper Parker died on November 6 following a three-year battle with cancer.

Visitation begins noon Saturday November 11 at Northminster Baptist Church in Jackson with a funeral service to follow at 2 p.m.

Zeita Parker and her husband, the late Wayne Parker, were delightful people dedicated to the mission of Mississippi College as well as the Lifeshare Foundation for many years. The Ridgeland residents had a big heart for charitable causes in the Magnolia State and around the world.

“Zeita Parker, in the spirit of her late husband, Wayne, was a great friend of Mississippi College,” President Lee Royce said. “She served briefly on the Board of Trustees and gave generously to the university supporting in particular the scholarship fund. She loved her family and loved serving others.”

The Mississippian was always a joy to be around. Zeita and Wayne’s children, Rick Parker and Zeita Parker always remained a big part of their lives.

Her greatest delight were her grandchildren, Tyler, Audrey and Matthew. Zeita Parker enjoyed her luncheon clubs, her Junior League years of fellowship and service along with her sea of friends. Family members are thankful to her dear friend and Northminster Baptist Church pastor Chuck Poole for helping her through the years of chemotherapy.

“Her positive, encouraging spirit, is appreciated and remembered by all who knew her,” Royce said.

Others say this longstanding supporter of the Blue & Gold family will be deeply missed. Her son, Rick Parker, continues the Parker tradition by successfully serving Mississippi College. He’s an outstanding psychology professor and counselor at the Baptist-affiliated university based in Clinton.

“Mississippi College owes much to the Parkers who have gone out of their way to advance the university and its students in so many important ways,” says Ron Howard, MC vice president for academic affairs.

Zeita Parker and her husband, Wayne, were regular visitors to the Clinton campus for many noteworthy events including MC Spring Scholarship Dinners beginning in 2008. They were terrific ambassadors for Mississippi College and lived the good life as faithful servants of God. The Parkers were strong supporters of MC student mission trips around the globe.

“Mrs. Zeita Parker was a wonderful lady whose graciousness and Christian kindnesses will be sorely missed by all who knew her and her wonderful husband, Wayne,” Howard said.

Her daughter, Zeita, often referred to her mom as the “Mayor of Kidville.” That’s because “children flocked to her wherever she went…my mother was an extraordinary woman of grace, integrity, love and grit. Her precious spirit lives vibrantly in the eyes of her grandchildren whom she loved so much.”

In lieu of flowers, meals, gifts and memorials, please make a contribution to the Benevolence Fund at Northminster Baptist Church.

Parkway Funeral Home and Memorial Park on Highland Colony Parkway in Ridgeland is in charge of arrangements.