Sylvia Lewis Parks was born May 15, 1933 in Mt. Holly, New Jersey, the eldest child of the late Basil Newbold Lewis and Mazie Lucas Lewis. From early childhood, she was reared and guided by her adoring paternal grandmother, Pearl Burnley Lewis. A 1951 graduate of Burlington High School, she received her Bachelor's degree from The College of New Jersey, and received her Master's degree in Education from the University of South Carolina.

After college she met her future husband, Marshall H. Parks, while he was stationed at Ft. Dix, New Jersey during the Korean Conflict. The couple relocated to South Carolina where Mrs. Parks joined the Richland One School District as an elementary school teacher in 1958, beginning a remarkable tenure that would span 38 years. Mrs. Parks quickly earned a reputation for her superior and innovative teaching style. After just over a decade in the classroom, she began the first of a number of increasingly senior positions within the school system, eventually becoming one of the top administrators in the entire district. Her roles included Title I Coordinator, Director of Federal Programs, Executive Director for Development Programs and Executive Director for Development and Planning. At the time of her retirement, she served as Acting Associate Superintendent for Elementary Education.

In addition to her work with Richland District One, Mrs. Parks served as a consultant to school districts and educational associations across the country, including the U.S. Department of Education; Seattle, WA, Public Schools; the Oklahoma City Schools; and the Fayetteville, NC, School District. She presented at the Overseas School to-School Partnership in Gabon and Cameroon, West Africa, the South Carolina Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals, and the South Carolina Education Association. In 1981, she testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor on the effectiveness of federal school programs.

In addition to her very busy professional schedule, Mrs. Parks always found time to serve her community. She was a passionate advocate for education, especially promoting reading and literacy for children everywhere in the world. Mrs. Parks served as a board member of the United Black Fund, the Columbia Urban League, and the Midlands Marine Institute. She also served as president of the Richland County chapter of the Assault on Illiteracy Program and was a member of the South Carolina Coalition of Blacks and Jews, the Community Relations Council, the Seven-Thirty Breakfast Club, and the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce. She was a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and a former member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

Soon after moving to South Carolina, Mrs. Parks joined the St. John Baptist Church of Columbia, where she was a dedicated member for over 40 years. In her later years, she joined her husband at his church, the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church of Greenwood, where she was a faithful servant.

Over the years, Mrs. Parks served as a mentor to legions of students, teachers, and school administrators. After retirement from public schools, she served as an adjunct professor at Benedict College. After fully retiring, Mrs. Parks found great joy in her fitness group and was active in Community Bible Study, where she served as a core class leader. Through these activities, she met two wonderful new friends: Dr. Rachel McGuire and Penny Blachman. They stepped in whenever needed and provided unselfish support and companionship in her later years.

Mrs. Parks always found time for her family; she was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She will be remembered for her warm smile and endearing spirit by all who knew her. Mrs. Parks is predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Marshall Henry Parks and daughter Cheryl Denice Parks.

To cherish her memory, she leaves two sons, Marshall Henry Parks, Junior and Dr. Michael Lloyd Parks; a granddaughter, Kimberly Lynn Parks, and a niece, The Honorable Julia Anne Parks.

"Our children are our future. Our society demands and will continue to demand that they acquire basic competencies and technical skills in their quest to develop their maximum potential"

Sylvia Parks

Testimony before the Committee on Education and Labor United States House of Representatives April 17, 1981.

The Family Will Receive Friends at Parks Funeral Home 514 Hackett Avenue Greenwood, SC 29646 on Thursday August 24, 2023 from 5 pm – 7 pm.

Funeral services:  11 a.m. Saturday August 26, 2023 Mount Moriah Baptist Church 914 US-221 Greenwood, SC 29646. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to THE SYLVIA LEWIS PARKS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Funds payable to Benedict College Division of University Advancement, Attn: Vice President of Institutional Advancement, 1600 Harden Street, Columbia, SC 29204 or made via online payment at www.Benedict.edu/givetobc (Please designate the funds to the Sylvia Parks Scholarship).