Alice Armistead Parker

Alice Parker ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Coggins Funeral Home on Mar. 9, 2026.Alice Frances Armistead Parker, 82, of Barnesville, Georgia, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family. Alice was born on July 27, 1942, in her family home at 908 Thomaston Street in Barnesville, Georgia, to Daniel Ivan Armistead and Nanelle Elizabeth Milner Armistead.A lifelong resident of Barnesville, Alice carried with her a deep love for her hometown and community. She graduated as the Valedictorian of the 1960 class of Gordon Military High School in Barnesville, proudly becoming a third-generation valedictorian in her family. During her childhood, she was active in Girl Scouts as a member of Troop 1 in Barnesville, earning the Curved Bar Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouts at the time, at the age of eleven.Following high school, Alice attended Emory University in Atlanta, where she was inducted into the Delta Iota Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. She later continued her studies at LaGrange College. During her junior year, she married the love of her life, William Paul Parker, on March 17, 1963, at The First United Methodist Church in Barnesville. Alice graduated from LaGrange College in December 1963, and the following month welcomed their daughter, Pamela.Alice began her professional life in social work, living in Americus, Georgia, where she worked in office administration before moving to Milledgeville, Georgia. There she worked alongside social service staff at Central State Hospital, an experience she often described as both challenging and deeply meaningful. Alice and Paul later moved to LaGrange, where she worked at the Georgia Rehabilitation Center in Warm Springs. During her time there, she organized the social service unit and served as chief social worker for three years.Although she had a successful career in social work, Alice never forgot her childhood dream of becoming a teacher. She eventually transitioned into education, beginning as a special education teacher in LaGrange where she worked with students with exceptional needs. Her compassion and experience allowed her to form meaningful connections with her students, helping them overcome frustration and find confidence and success in their school experiences.Alice and her family later moved to Blairsville, Georgia, where her son, Sean, was born in 1971. Two years later she taught second grade in a small mountain school in Union County before continuing her work as a Special Education teacher with the Hall County School System in Gainesville.In 1974, Alice returned home to Barnesville with her family and began teaching in the Lamar County School System. There she became certified in gifted education and was instrumental in identifying gifted students in the elementary school system and developing the county's early gifted education program. Recognizing the need for expanded opportunities, she helped write and lead a successful Title IV-C grant project that strengthened Lamar County's gifted education program during the 1976–1977 school year. Alice later shared the success of this program by presenting it at the 1978 Council for Exceptional Children Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.For many years, Alice taught gifted students at Milner Middle School in Lamar County, where she coached and encouraged students while inspiring and enhancing their creative, imaginative, and problem-solving abilities. Her dedication to nurturing young minds left a lasting influence on countless students throughout their lives.Committed to lifelong learning, Alice earned her Master of Education in Elementary Education and later an Education Specialist degree from Georgia State University. She continued teaching for many years and ultimately retired as an eighth-grade math teacher, leaving a lasting impact on generations of students.Alice was a devoted mother, grandmother, and friend whose life centered on family, faith, and learning. She was a lifelong member of The First United Methodist Church in Barnesville, where she proudly maintained perfect Sunday School attendance throughout her childhood. She was also a proud member of the Lamar-Lafayette Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), an organization dedicated to historic preservation, education, and patriotism.She found great joy in antiquing, researching family genealogy, bird watching, and traveling. When her children were young, Alice and Paul traveled throughout the southeastern United States in their bright orange Apache pop-up camper, visiting national and state parks and instilling in their children a love of history, nature, and adventure.Her love of travel continued throughout her life. Some of her most memorable trips included bus tours through New England and Canada, a cruise to Alaska with her grandson Thomas, a trip to South America with friends, and family adventures to Key West, Savannah, and Texas with Sean and his family. She also enjoyed a special trip to Ireland with her daughter Pamela. In January 2004, at the age of 61, Alice fulfilled a remarkable travel milestone by sailing through the Panama Canal and then crossing the Equator, an experience she treasured.For 62 years Alice lived with Multiple Sclerosis, yet she never allowed it to define or limit her life. Over time she transitioned from long walks and gardening to the use of a cane and eventually a wheelchair, but her spirit and determination remained unchanged. She approached each day with optimism and gratitude, often saying,"My life has been good. I wake every morning looking forward to another great day. Who knows-it might even be the day I dance again to that good old 1950's music."Alice was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Paul Parker, who passed away on January 2, 2000; her parents, Dan and Nanelle Armistead; and her sister, Linda Armistead Miller of Midland, Texas.She is survived by her daughter, Pamela Parker Aiken of Barnesville, and husband Mike Aiken; her son, Sean Paul Parker of Barnesville, and wife Lynn Parker; and her sister, Nancy Armistead Dudley of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.She also leaves behind her cherished grandchildren: Dr. Thomas P. Aiken and wife Dr. Caroline M. Aiken of Athens, Georgia; Daniel C. Aiken and Kayla Freund of Barnesville; Gabe M. Parker and fiancée Caitlyn Jarrell of Barnesville; Garrett L. Parker and wife Heidi Parker of Dawsonville, Georgia; and Gracen Alyeska Parker of Barnesville.Alice's life was one of service, resilience, curiosity, and love. As a teacher, mentor, traveler, and devoted family matriarch, she left a legacy that will continue to inspire all who knew her. Her family will forever remember her strength, kindness, and joyful spirit.Her life reminds us that even in the face of life's challenges, it is possible to greet every day with hope, gratitude, and the promise of dancing again.Memorial services will be held on Friday, April 3, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. from the First Methodist Church of Barnesville. Burial of ashes will follow at Lamar Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends on Friday April 3, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. -1:00 p.m. at the First Methodist Church of Barnesville.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the First Methodist Church of Barnesville at 375 Thomaston St. Barnesville, GA 30204To send a flower arrangement in memory of Alice Armistead Parker, please click here to visit our sympathy store.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.