The KC CALL

CARMEN PARKS

Carmen Leta (Turner) Parks, a native of Kansas City, Kas., was the eldest daughter of Henderson and Leola Turner.

She graduated from Wyandotte High school in 1959. She earned dual Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Management and Accounting with a minor in Marketing and from Creighton university, Omaha Neb. She later embarked on MSSM graduate work at the University of Southern California Far East Division when stationed overseas.

The degree of which she was most proud was her B.A. (Born Again) – it earned her eternal rewards with the greatest significance and impact on her life. She adhered to the Golden Rule. It allowed her to view life from a very different perspective. She believed that obediently following the Lord, allowing Him to order and direct her steps equipped her to be “mightily” in His service. She was determined to live a Christ-centered life.

Christian Drama Ministry was her passion. She loved working with “seasoned” Christians developing, producing and promoting dramatic, musical and educational programs and events that enhanced the quality of life. It was her desire to help others to see Jesus more clearly so that they might be empowered to love Him more dearly.

She spent most of her career in the comptroller fields of accounting, auditing and budgeting. She was skilled in developing and executing organizational budgets and was a competent leader who could follow, as well as lead. She was considered a master organizer. Key highlights of her career included a seven-year assignment in Europe, which culminated in 1990, and the opportunity to teach English in both China (2000) and Turkey. She not only traveled extensively, she was also very well-read. She certainly could hold her own in any situation.

She retired from Federal service as a Staff Accountant after completing a successful 27-year career in 1997. She was also an educator who taught mathematics and business-related courses in the Massachusetts and Georgia Public School systems. She additionally taught Special Education and upon retirement spent her latter years serving as a substitute teacher in local Parochial schools and in the Piper, Turner, Bonner/Edwardsville,

and Kansas City, Kas., Public School districts.

She was affiliated with several community, church, and fraternal groups including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Links, Inc., and Prince Hall Affiliations where she usually held leadership positions in the United States, Germany, and Japan.

Ms. Parks was regarded as a very compassionate, caring personable lady, whose life was filled with a myriad of special blessings that are too numerous for words. Carmen was certainly one of God’s chosen and always treasured her unique gifts and talents. She was a woman of remarkable strength, perseverance, character, and dignity. Her life experiences transcended her humble beginnings enabling her to move in ways she never dreamed possible.

She leaves to mourn her memory - sons, Kevin Richard Parks (Kathy) and Brian Michael Parks (Silvia); daughter, Melanie Denise Trumbull (Matthew); granddaughters, Sandrine Brugnon Elbel, and Xiñia Carmen Parks; grandsons, Wayne Joseph Parks, Richard Lucas Parks, and Jean-Pierre Parks; two beloved sisters, Barbara Freeman and Evangelist Carynell Scott; along with a host of nieces, nephews, special cousins and friends.

Her parents, Henderson Turner Sr., and Leola Hollians Turner; brother, Henderson Turner Jr.; and exhusband, Richard Lee Parks, all preceded her in death.

Obituaries

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2022-05-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://kccallnews.pressreader.com/article/282067690557737

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