Mr. Willie E. Parker

COACH WILLIE E. PARKER

Funeral Service for Coach Willie E. Parker, 85, of Dermott, AR will be held at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, May 22, 2022. Service will be held at the Dermott High School Gym; Rev. Ricky Frequae, officiating minister. passed away on May 13, 2022 at his home in Dermott, Arkansas.
Willie was born on April 29, 1937 to John and Hattie Neal Parker in Lake Village, Arkansas. He married Alma Jean (Plummer) and they resided in Dermott, Arkansas.
Willie begun his education at Central High School, Lake Village, AR, before the schools were consolidated and began playing basketball under Robert C. Rainey, Coach Parker lettered in basketball every year and twice earned All-State honors.
Coach Parker played basketball at Arkansas AM&N (Now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) under H.O. Clemmons and had a successful career as a player and student.
Coach Parker's coaching career began in Wilmot in 1963 at Slack-LeGrande High School. Coach Parker coached there for eight years, compiling and outstanding record: 141-50 for Senior Boys; 90-20 for junior boys and 95-25 for Senior Girls. All three teams won their share of district tournaments and many, many trophies.
While coaching at Wimot, Parker was very, very active in summer community programs. The basketball program was outstanding and other programs were organized to benefit the entire community. After leaving Wilmot in the 1970's, Parker moved to Sacramento, California and lived there for four years. Once again, Parker went into coaching. He coached baseball and basketball at Sacramento High School. His programs there were also very successful.
In 1975, Coach Parker returned to Arkansas and began coaching at Dermott High School. He coached basketball, track and football until 1984. In 1985, Parker became Athletic Director and remained the boys head basketball coach.
Coach Parker's teams at Dermott won Four State Basketball Championships (1986, 1989, 1991, 1994) and one Overall State Championship (1986). The Overall State Championship team compiled an overall record of 34-1. His team went 30-5 in 1989 and 27-5 in 1991. His 1981 team went 27-4 and finished as the state runner-up. His 1968 senior girls team won the District Championship and compiled a 27-1 record. His 1967 Junior Boys were the State-Runner-up with a 25-1 record.
Coach Parker was name the Coach of the Year in 1967, 1986 and 1989. He was the head coach for the East Basketball team in the 1986 AHSCA All-Star Game. In 1991 he won his 500th Senior Boys game and retired with 550 wins in Senior Boys competition
He is survived by his spouse Alma Jean Parker of Dermott, AR; five children, Olevia Taylor (James) of Dallas, TX, Michael Parker of Lake Village, AR, Ebony "Nikki" Holliman (Spyri) of Dermott, AR, Terry Cunningham (Akecia) of Stockbridge, GA, and Nakeya Plummer of Desoto, TX; fifteen grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, ten great great grandchildren, and his Loving Neice, Evora McJoy (Glen) of Lake Village, AR.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, May 20, 2022 at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, West Iowa Street, Dermott.
Burial will take place at Plummer Cemetery, Old Highway, North, Dermott. Service entrusted to Dillard Funeral Home, 210 North Trotter Street, Dermott

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