Alma Elizabeth Collier Parks

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Nov. 19, 1927 – March 9, 2018

JACKSON — Services for Alma Elizabeth Collier Parks, 90, of Madison, who died Friday, March 9, 2018, will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Lakewood Funeral Home Chapel in Jackson.

Graveside services will follow at Lakewood Memorial Park under the direction of Lakewood Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from noon until service time Thursday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Parks was born Nov. 19, 1927, in Slaton, Texas, the daughter of R.W. Collier Sr. and Katie Abington Collier, owners and publishers of the Oakdale Journal in Oakdale, La.

Alma grew up with siblings Robert William Collier Jr., M.D., Alice Collier Burgess and Julia Collier Gates.

She was a graduate of Oakdale High School and Northwestern State University-Louisiana, where she met her husband, William Robert “Bill” Parks.

Mrs. Parks was a loving and compassionate woman of God. She lived a lifestyle of loving and serving others. She taught choral music in Louisiana schools. Later, she taught fifth grade at Adams County Christian School in Natchez and piano lessons in her home. She was also a reading tutor for dyslexic students. She was known for her loving heart, compassion toward the hurting and willingness to help people at a minute’s notice. She possessed a sharp mind and quick wit.

Survivors include three daughters, Susan Elizabeth Davis, M.D., and husband, Terry, of Canton, Martha “Marty” Kay Frey and husband, Johan, and Lisa Anne Parks, all of Madison; one sister, Julia Gates and husband, Howard Gates Sr., of Alexandria, La.; five grandchildren, Guinn Terry “Skip” Davis and wife, Christine, of Los Angeles, William Parks Davis and wife, Amanda, of Tupelo, Sarah Katherine “Katie” Davis of Canton, Marissa Elizabeth Parks and Amelia Anne Parks, both of Madison; one great-grandchild, Julia Davis of Tupelo; and a number of other family and friends.

She also left her dog, Katie, her constant companion.

She was greatly loved by her family and returned their love wholeheartedly in word and deed.

Mrs. Parks treasured her many friends and her two best friends — childhood friend, Gene Dixon of Oakdale and Judy Brewer of Natchez, who helped her endure the loss of her husband, Bill, in 1991.

Alma’s death left a void in her family no one can fill, but they rejoice knowing she is in the presence of Jesus whom she loved and served faithfully with her final breath.