Category: 1959

Oh what a joyous reunion took place in heaven Saturday evening, as Sherrill ran in to his wife, Virginia’s open arms and got to be held and hugged by his mom, Rose again too! Then to hear God say “well done, good and faithful servant”… (Matthew 25:23)

Sherrill Vincent Parks was born May 1, 1937. He graduated from Statesville Senior High School and Davidson College. He went into the family business, Parks Realty Company, where he met and fell in love with Virginia Davidson. They were married March 10, 1963, and were blessed with 52 years together.

Sherrill served in the National Guard for 6 years: HHC 1st Bde 30th Infantry Division. His rank was Sgt. 3-5, and he was honorably discharged. Sherrill was very active in his community. He was a charter member of the Statesville YMCA. He was a charter member, director, secretary and treasurer of the Kiwanis Club. He was president of the Board and Realtors, served on the Statesville planning board for 23 years and co-chaired Statesville Downtown Revitalization Committee. He operated radio communications in the military, at hot air balloon rallies and also for Iredell County Civil Defense RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) Auxillary Communications. Sherrill was a charter member of Forest Park Presbyterian Church. He has been an active member of Westwood Baptist Church for 22 years, where he loved being the greeter. His warm genuine welcome is the reason many came back. He loved his church family and enjoyed the music each Sunday, especially the old gospel hymns he could tap his hand to the beat.

Sherrill led an active and interesting life. He had his pilot license and used to take newspaper photographers up to take aerial photos and the sheriff up to look for liquor stills and marijuana fields. He enjoyed throwing apples and corn to deer in his yard. He loved to take pictures and used to develop them in his own darkroom. He used to jog, ride bikes, swim, play tennis and basketball, water ski, exercise at the YMCA… He rode a hot air balloon for his 50th birthday. He especially enjoyed the beach and lake. During his final days, he rallied and was able to do his favorite thing: ride his boat with family.

Family was the most important thing to Sherrill. He cherished his two daughters, Kim and Debbie and adored and was so proud of his three grandchildren, Kalib, Amanda and Bailey. He got so excited every time he got to spend time with them.

Sherrill died at his home by the lake Saturday, June 4, 2022, while listening to gospel music with his family by his side. He was 85 years old. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Davidson Parks; parents, Laurie Alexander Parks Sr. and Rose Sherrill Parks; and his sister, Shirley Parks Leonard.

He is survived by his daughters, Kim Parks Michaels and Debbie Parks Lankford; grandchildren, Kalib Michaels, Amanda Lankford, Bailey Lankford; and his brother, LA Parks Jr.

Sherrill was a wonderful man, Dad, Papa, husband and friend who impacted many lives. He liked to cut up to make others smile. He was so friendly that all who met him came to love him, including his caregivers from Visiting Angels. As his granddaughter Amanda described him “You loved big and you were loved even bigger by everyone!”

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 8, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Troutman Funeral Home. Funeral services will be officiated by Pastor Mike Hyde at Westwood Baptist Church in Statesville Thursday, June 9, at 2 p.m., with burial following at Oakwood Cemetery.

Colonel Reid answered his final roll call on Monday, the 16th of May, 2022 and reported for duty to the Commander-in-Chief of the Universe, his Lord and Savior. Colonel Reid was born on the 6th of January, 1931 in Charlotte, North Carolina to the late Luther Reid and Stella Savage Reid.

He attended Dilworth Elementary, Alexander Graham Junior High, and Central High Schools, and was a graduate of Charlotte College (forerunner of UNCC) with an Associate’s Degree in Business, where he was Student Body President. After graduating from Davidson College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, he completed Harvard University’s Executive Seminar Program.

Colonel Reid was a graduate of the U.S. Air Force’s Squadron Officer, Air Command, and Staff and Air War College programs. During his 38 year military career, Colonel Reid attended professional military courses at the Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL; Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.; and the National Defense University, Norfolk, VA. His military decorations include the United States Legion of Merit, the United States Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and many other military decorations. He was also the recipient of two George Washington Gold Medals from the Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge, PA.

Colonel Reid was the only person to ever serve as a military aide to both a North Carolina Democratic Governor (Scott) and a Republican Governor (Martin). He was also a member of the Korean War Veterans Association and Post 2423 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, as well as a member of the Air Force Association and the Military Officers of America Association. He was a former Vice President of the North Carolina National Guard Association and its 14,000 members.

In addition to a long and distinguished military career, Colonel Reid enjoyed a career in business, retiring as Vice President of the North American Packaging Division of Rexham Corporation, a Bowater UK company. During his time with Rexham, he traveled to Canada, throughout the U.S., and to Puerto Rico, and served as Chairman of the Industrial Relations Committees of the Washington, D.C.-based Paperboard Packaging Council and National Flexible Packaging Association.

His activity in civic affairs included serving as a member of the Charlotte Clean City Committee and as a Director of the Community Health Services organization. He also served as President of the UNCC Alumni Association and was a member of the Charlotte Optimist Club. From 1994 to 2006, Billy led more than 30 mission teams to Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, and South Dakota, building and repairing churches and conducting Bible schools and crusades. He was a member of the Carpenters for Christ teams that worked in Argentina, Bolivia, and Costa Rica. He also worked with the NC Baptist Men’s Disaster and Recovery teams in the aftermath of floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

In his retirement, Billy served as a Director of the Living Well Foundation, the NC Korean War Veterans Association, the Carolina Cooperative Federal Credit Union, and the Parkview Community Foundation. He also served as Board Chairman and Executive Director of Jackson Park Ministries, which he and his wife, Naomi, helped to found in 1985. He also served as a Deacon at Eastway, Sharon, and Pritchard Memorial Baptist Churches.

Early in his life, he studied voice, and throughout his life, he performed as a baritone soloist in churches in the U.S. and other countries. Colonel Reid loved God, his family, and his beloved puppies, Jinx, Star, Beau, Susie, April, Coco, Wally, Sugar, Bella, Precious, Sheba, Princess, and Coco No. 2.

He was predeceased by his sister, Wanda Reid; brothers, Ralph Reid and Karl Reid; and his beloved grandmother, Lucy Savage.

He is survived by his wife, Naomi Bailey Reid; daughters, Kathy Reid and Becky Plemmons; sons, Tim Reid (Cheryl) and Mark Reid (Mitzi); granddaughters, Christina Melton, Candace Jaminski (James), Ashley Reid, Brianna Horne, and Kimberlee Walker (Mike); grandsons, Cameron Reid, Luke Van Every (Elizabeth), and Sandy Van Every (Lacey); great-grandsons, Maddox Washer, Brayden Washer, Noah Jaminski, Nathan Jaminski, Coltyn Lang, Cole Coronado, and Kane Coronado; great-granddaughters, Madilynne Jaminski and Emberleigh Lang; sister, Sandra Hayes; niece, Cindy Jentz (Jim); and numerous other family members and friends.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 12:00pm until 2:00pm on Saturday, the 21st of May, 2022 at Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church, 1117 South Boulevard in Charlotte.

The celebration of Colonel Reid’s life is to be conducted at 2:00pm, following the visitation, at Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church, where Rev. Bobby Morrow and Rev. Stan Houser are to officiate.

The interment will follow, via an escorted cortege, at Forest Lawn West Cemetery in Charlotte.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Colonel Billy Reid’s name to the ASPCA, Pioneers Missionaries, or to the Baptist Men’s Group at Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church.

The family wishes to thank all the medical personnel who provided their services to Colonel Reid, as well as to those who prayed, sent cards, and offered condolences.

February 11, 1937 – April 13, 2022

William Laurens Walker III, T. Munford Boyd Professor of Law Emeritus at the University of Virginia School of Law, died peacefully at home on Wednesday April 13, 2022, at the age of 85, of natural causes.

Laurens, also known as Larry, was the only child of the late William Laurens Walker II and Georgia Bassett Walker of Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he was born in 1937. He grew up at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, founded by Reverend Newton Pinckey Walker in 1849, where his father served as President. He was President of his Class, Valedictorian, and voted “Best All Round” at Spartanburg High School, from which he graduated in 1955.

Laurens graduated from Davidson College in 1959 (BA), earned a law degree at Duke University in 1963 (JD), and a masters degree at Harvard Law School in 1970 (SJ.D). At Davidson, he was Editor-in-Chief of the Davidsonian and Phi Beta Kappa. Following law school, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif and service in the U.S. Army as an officer, he practiced with the Atlanta firm Sutherland Asbill & Brennan. Later he was counsel to the Atlanta firm Long, Aldridge & Norman and the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

He served as the Paul B. Eaton Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina, and then joined the faculty at the University of Virginia School of Law in 1978. At UVA, he taught civil procedure, complex civil litigation and a seminar on using expert information within the legal system. His early empirical research on procedural justice (with John Thibaut) has been studied and replicated by scholars in law and psychology in the United States and abroad. His casebook (with John Monahan) entitled “Social Science in Law” is used in this country and abroad both as a textbook and reference concerning judicial use of social research. In 1988, he received the Biennial Distinguished Contributions Award from the American Psychology-Law Society for his social scientific studies of the legal process.

Many alumni of the UVA Law School fondly remember his hearty laugh, gentle kindness, and cheerful attitude, as do his former colleagues on the faculty. He was always ready with an encouraging word or light-hearted joke, with a twinkle in his eye. He will be recalled, as former Law School Dean Paul Mahoney put it, “as an energetic and enthusiastic teacher, scholar, and participant in the intellectual life of the Law School,” whose “infectious good humor and openness have been as important as his intellectual contributions.”

He leaves behind his wife of 40 years, Sharon Louise Walker of Charlottesville, Virginia; stepbrother, R. Wiley Bourne Jr. (Elinor) of Kingsport, Tenn.; daughters, Helgi Walker Drummond (Maldwin) of Washington, D.C. and Hobe Sound, Fla.; Margit Walker Nelson (Rob) of Flat Rock, N.C.; and Carina Smith Severance (Ryan) of Sparrows Point, Md. He is survived by his three beloved grandchildren, who loved him equally well in return, William Aaron Sheldon of San Francisco, Calif.; Sarah Christina Sheldon of Boston, Mass.; and Christopher Walker Sheldon of Flat Rock, N.C.

The family gives thanks for the kindness and compassion of the staff at Hospice of the Piedmont, the dedication and love of caregiver extraordinaire Shenise Gray and her team at Peace of Mind Helpers, and the tremendous services rendered by the world-class physicians and staff at UVA Health.

A memorial service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church at a later date.

Published by Daily Progress on April 15, 2022.

Mr. Robinson, 84, passed away on March 1, 2022, after a brief illness brought on by covid. Stacy was born in Gaston County, North Carolina on June 25, 1937, to William Roy Robinson and the former Lida Ormand Stacy, both deceased.

Stacy graduated from Gastonia High School in 1955 and on July 3rd married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Sherry Ann Rollins. They were married nearly 67 years at the time of his death. Stacy attended Davidson College, following in the footsteps of his father and older brother. After graduating with a BA in business in 1959, he began his career with the Insurance Company of North America (INA) (later CIGNA). He spent his career in the Carolinas with a nine-year detour to New Jersey and finally returned to Charlotte where he retired after 40 years of service.

Retirement could not stop him from working, as he and Sherry along with her two sisters and their spouses started a small antiques business which kept them occupied and entertained for 25 years. The “Sisters Three” name became well known in the area, especially after they began conducting estate sales.

Stacy was a lifelong Presbyterian holding leadership positions in every church where he was a member. He was an ordained deacon and elder in the Presbyterian Church USA. He was active in Stephen Ministry, church foreign mission trips and Habitat for Humanity. When not working, Stacy’s and Sherry’s love of travel took them to all fifty states and sixty-five countries. He loved playing bridge which he did up until his illness.

Stacy leaves behind his loving wife Sherry, son Banks S. Robinson, Jr. (Polly), daughter Elizabeth (‘Lisa’) R. Chidsey (John), five grandchildren Jay Robinson (Amanda), Sarah Bryan (Steven), Marshall Robinson (Beth), Lauren Chidsey (Michel Burnes), and Cameron Chidsey (Bronte).

A celebration of his life will be held on Sat. March 12th at 10am at Southminster. A graveside ceremony will follow at 1pm at Providence Presbyterian Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Southminster Community Fund.

Online condolences may be left at www.heritagecares.com

Edward Morrison Brown, ASID, a talented and highly respected Charlotte interior designer, died on January 27 at Aldersgate in Charlotte. He was born in Wadesboro, North Carolina, on January 10, 1937, the only child of the late Margaret Morrison and William G. Brown. He grew up in Concord, North Carolina.

Morrison was a 1959 graduate of Davidson College, where he did extensive design work during his later professional career. His graduate studies were done at Richmond Professional Institute and were followed by independent studies in Europe.

Morrison had an enormous appetite for and broad knowledge of art, architecture and design which he fed by continued study and digestion of fine books and wide travel. His delight in savoring and seeing classics and innovations and his incorporation of both in his design work was boundless. He appreciated what was around him and supplemented it with his tasteful and inventive additions.

He and his talented wife Connie lent their talents to many private homes, banks, hotels and country clubs throughout the Carolinas. They also restored important historic homes and participated in many show houses, winning many awards along the way, but they also had a talent for including clients’ prized and sentimental pieces, resulting in beautiful homes which reflected the personality of the owner. In 1998, Morrison was named ADAC Southeast Designer of the Year.

Along with his talents, Morrison was a unique and charismatic man who never met a stranger. He was debonair and dapper, with a love for life, laughter, friends and those he called family. Connie and Morrison delighted in their time spent at their second home in Blowing Rock. Those of us who were fortunate enough to have this treasure in our lives, along with Connie and Chess, will miss these gems from Granville Road.

Morrison was predeceased by his beloved wife and business partner Constance Nock Brown and their only child Chesser Morrison Brown. Survivors include many cousins and devoted friends. Special thanks go to Jon Windham, Tate Sterrett, Diane Sterling, Winston Way, Julian Patton, Marcia Joines, and Cindy King whose counsel was invaluable. And for their limitless care and devotion, special thanks go to caregivers Dee and David Thompson, Rhoda Davenport, Regina Sykes, Khadija Bryce and his loyal friend, Laura Jackson.

Due to the times in which we are living, there will be no memorial service. Instead, we ask that you raise a glass and celebrate this extraordinary man. Memorial gifts may be made to the John Crosland School, 5146 Parkway Plaza Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28217.
Online condolences may be made at www.HankinsandWhittington.com.