THOMAS WILLIAM PARKER
Thomas William Parker, b July 13, 1872 at White Hall, Bell County, Texas,
d August 3, 1953 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas and buried in Evergreen Cemetery
in Marlin - was a son of Tom and Catherine (Baity) Parker, of Tennessee and
Louisiana, respectively.
On October 15, 1912, Thomas William Parker (called "Tom") was married at
Highbank, Falls County, Texas to Melvina E. Dupree, b September 23, 1889 at
Highbank, d May 5, 1947 in Marlin - a daughter of Jesse G. and Caroline
(Dangerfield) Dupree- early settlers of Highbank.
Thomas William Parker's father, Tom Parker, came to Bell County, Texas
from Tennessee after the Civil War - traveling with a white family named Parker;
while the parents of his wife, Catherine (Baity), immigrated to Texas from
Louisiana. Tom and Catherine (Baity) Parker acquired 150 acres of land near
Belton, Texas, and were the parents of seven children:
Thomas William, Zemri H. Aria, Tollie, Ollie, Marinda, Mary D., and
Porter Parker.
Thomas William Parker earned a Teaching
Certificate, and taught at Reagan, Bremond, and Rosebud. His wife, Melvina
(Dupree) Parker, secured a Normal School Certificate and taught for many years
in Falls County. They were the parents of four daughters: All four daughters
were Falls County teachers.
Helen Verna Parker, b October 29,1914 at Reagan - married first to
Freddie Mattox (deceased), and married second to Booker T. Matthews. Freddie
Mattox served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Helen has no children.
Ruth Lillian Parker, b August 31, 1916 at Reagan - married Harvey A.
Humphrey, and resides in Marlin, Texas.
Theresa Caroline Parker, b April 13, 1918 in Reagan - married Bernadine
A. Huckaby, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Their daughter,
Carolyn Huckaby, married W. A. Soders and lives in Wilmington, North Carolina.
They have Kevin Soders, b 1971 and Terri Soders, b 1975.
Doris Reva Parker, b October 15, 1924 at Bremond, Robertson County, Texas
- married Frank Williams, Jr. (deceased). who served in the U.S. Army during
World War II. They had Dwain Williams who married Shirley Lang, who has Camille
Williams, b 1971 in Los Angeles, California; and Christopher Williams, b 1979 in
Los Angeles.
Parker received a scholarship to Prairie View College, afterwards he sent
his wife Melvina to Sam Houston College. They both taught school in Rosebud for
eleven years.
During their stay in Rosebud they educated four daughters. Verna received
her Masters degree from Prairie View University, as did Ruth, Theresa and Reva.
Theresa received an additional degree from Texas Southern University. Theresa
and her husband, Bernadine educated their daughter, Carolyn, who graduated from
Texas Women University in Denton.
Reva’s son, Dwain Williams attended
Prairie View University, and at present is attending California Community
College.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of
these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical
Commission, page 340 column 1 and 2 and page 341 column 1.
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.