Marshall Henry Parks, Sr., 86, was born in Greenville, SC on January 7, 1932. He was the youngest child of the late James Lloyd Parks and Julia Sarah Arnold Parks.  He departed this life peacefully after a short illness on April 30, 2018.

He received his early education in Greenville County Schools.  In his youth, he was active in the Boy Scouts and rose to Eagle Scout, the highest achievement rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) program.  In 1950, he graduated from Sterling High School where he was a member of the football team.  He completed his undergraduate education at South Carolina State College in 1954 where he excelled in football.

After college, he attended Gupton Jones School of Mortuary Science in Atlanta and returned to Greenwood, SC to work with his father in the family funeral home as a licensed embalmer and funeral director.  With the advent of the Korean Conflict, he served in the armed forces and was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey.  There he met Sylvia Lewis, his future wife.

After military service, Marshall returned to South Carolina and began a teaching career at CA Johnson High School where he taught science and mathematics, and was an assistant football coach.  He continued his graduate education, including a fellowship at South Dakota State University for science and mathematics teachers, and further graduate study at Columbia University in the city of New York.  His teaching career with Richland County School District One spanned 19 years, including assignments as Alcorn Middle and AC Flora High Schools.

A licensed building contractor with a keen eye for design, Marshall pursued his great love of building and renovation, working on local projects and maintaining family real estate holdings in Greenwood County.  He was an active member and Trustee of the Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Greenwood and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4262 in Columbia.

His daughter, Cheryl Denise Parks predeceased him.

Marshall leaves to cherish his memory, a loving wife of 62 years, Sylvia Lewis Parks of the home; two sons, Marshall Henry Parks, Junior, of Columbia and Dr. Michael Lloyd Parks of New York City, a granddaughter,  Kimberly Lynn Parks of Columbia and a niece, The Honorable Julia Anne Parks of Greenwood.

Funeral Services will be Friday, May 4, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Greenwood, SC .  A viewing will be held in the hour preceding the service.  Interment will follow at Oakbrook Memorial Park in Greenwood, SC.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Scholarship Fund at Mount Moriah Baptist Church 914 US-221, Greenwood, SC .  The Parks Funeral Home of Greenwood, SC is in charge of arrangements.