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Attorney H. Wallace Parker was born on December 8, 1941, in Hamilton, North Carolina. The second youngest of five children born to Rudolph and Annie M. Williams Parker, Mr. Parker joined his home church at an early age and began his education in Martin County Public Schools. Honor, integrity and service were amongst his life’s core values, serving for two tours of duty as a proud Marine, stateside, and during the Vietnam War. He completed his undergraduate education at Winston Salem State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Minor in Art, and a Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central University School of Law. Following a legal fellowship in Pontiac, Michigan, his legal career amplified quickly. He soon was appointed Deputy City Attorney of Pontiac – the first minority to serve in this pivotal position. At this time, he became a member and Trustee of St. John United Methodist Church, Pontiac, Michigan, where he managed the church’s legal affairs. He then established his own Law Firm in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, with a reputation as a formidable defense and civil rights attorney. Attorney Parker served as Chief Counsel for the North Oakland County Branch NAACP for decades, leading the fight for justice and racial equality. A committed public servant, he represented countless community members pro bono, addressed inflammatory incidents of racism and drafted a bill that became law changing the method of jury selection in the state of Michigan. This new law greatly increased the number of minority jurors serving on cases. Mr. Parker secured a judgement from the U.S. Federal Court requiring implementation of proper testing and promotions for minority police officers. He was one of twelve attorneys who defended Affirmative Action at the University of Michigan. On behalf of the NAACP, he developed an action plan to address racial profiling for law enforcement agencies in Oakland County. Mr. Parker taught courses to new lawyers for the Oakland County Bar as he guided school districts and police departments to resolve ethnic intimidation issues, promoting diversity within the community. Mr. Parker served as the City Attorney for Royal Oak Township, for more than a decade. Mr. Parker’s work toward creating a society of justice, placed his own life in peril on multiple occasions, yet, he was steadfast to his mission. His stelar legal career spanned 45 years in Michigan, until retiring to his home state of North Carolina. Attorney Parker held membership in the Michigan State Bar Association, a Lifetime Member of the NAACP, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Among the honors he received were the U.S. Department of Justice/FBI Lifetime Achievement Award, The Michigan Bar Association’s Citizens Lawyer Award, the NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award, NAACP Presidential Award, and The National NAACP Foot Solder’s Award, and many others. In addition, an award in his name, The H. Wallace Parker Preservation of Justice Award, was presented annually by the NAACP. Attorney Parker’s life’s priorities were his family, business and legal service to his community. Attorney Parker was preceded in death by his parents, Annie and Rudolph Parker, Sr; siblings, Rudolph (Ora) Parker, Jr., Betty Parker (Peter) Burnette, James Eugene Parker, MD and Ann Parker, Esq. Atty. Parker leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 54 years, Patricia Walker Parker; daughter, Meriel Parker, MS; and grand-daughter, Rachel Alexandria Parker; sister-in-laws Delores Pruitt, Annette Cheek and Mildred Parker; brother-in-law Dr. King Cheek; nieces Shayla Pruitt, M.A, Antoinette Cheek, nephews Paul (Sherine) Parker, MD, Victor Parker, JD., King Cheek, Antoine Cheek and Kahlil (Bianca) Cheek; great niece and nephews, Amira Parker, David Parker and Mateo Parker; as well as a host of other relatives and community friends. Memorial contributions may be made to the following: The Myositis Association https://www.myositis.org/donate/ (check box to indicate gift - “In Memory of H. Wallace Parker”) or Roanoke River Partners (contact@roanokeriverpartners.org) (indicate gift in memory of H. Wallace Parker/Rosenwald School).

Tributes

H. Wallace Parker Esquire

December 8, 1941 - December 9, 2022