John Malcolm Parker ’41

John Malcolm Parker ’41, of Birmingham, Ala., died Dec. 18 at age 90. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, his childhood was in Cuba at Central España in Matanzas Province, where his father, Charles Parker, managed the commercial department of Matanzas Sugar Co. Parker and brother, Bob, were home-schooled by their mother, Mabel. He earned a B.S. from Davidson in 1941. He worked for Standard Oil of N.J., and for Duke Power Co. He was in the U.S. Army during WWII. After WWII, he worked for Southern Bell Telephone Co. in Charlotte, Atlanta, and Birmingham. He was responsible for all internal audit service and was secretary to the board of directors audit committee. He retired in 1983. He founded and was president of Omega Associates, and provided management services to organizations including UAB, Callaway Gardens, and Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). Parker was active in Presbyterian churches in Davidson, Charlotte, Atlanta, and joined South Highland Presbyterian Church when he and his family moved to Birmingham. He served as deacon, ruling elder, and teacher. He was commissioner to two General Assemblies. He was active in the Institute of Management Accountants. He was South Birmingham chapter’s first president and was national board of directors’ representative. He was president of the Birmingham chapter of IIA and vice chair of their international board of directors. He was invited to address the All-India Conference of Internal Auditors in Madras, India, in 1980. Parker was a certified internal auditor, and a member of the International Platform Association and The Club. He is listed in Who’s Who in America. Parker was married for 46 years to Irene Davis Parker until her death in 1987. Surviving him is his wife of 22 years, Emma Kathryn Smithey Parker, 1424 Montclair Rd., Apt. 157-E, Birmingham, AL 35210-2208; his daughter, Elane Parker Jones; granddaughter, Meg Jones, a teacher in Morocco; stepdaughters, Joan Dawson (Frank), and Leeds and Ellen Davis; nephews, Jack Parker and Tom Parker; and niece, Sandra McMillan.