Edna Lee Saylor Parker
Edna Lee Saylor Parker, age 93 of Dalton, Georgia, departed this life Sunday, October 2, 2022 at her home surrounded by her family.
Edna was born Aug. 7, 1929 in Elora, Tn., a daughter of the late, Henry Lee and Helen Rose McCollum Saylor. She was also preceded in death by her loving husband of 52 years, J. C. Parker who died, January 14, 2001; a daughter-in-law, Elaine Parker; and her brothers, Virgil Carol Saylor and Henry Glenn Saylor.
Edna and J.C. opened Parker’s Restaurant, (a local landmark) in 1954, which is still family owned and operated by the Parker family. Edna was a member of Welcome Hill Baptist Church.
She is survived by her son, Gary Lee Parker, Sr. of Chattanooga, TN; daughter and son-in-law, Debbie Parker Roach and Mark Roach of Dalton, GA; grandchildren, Stephanie and Jerry Belcher, Jr., Ashley Hall, Cassie Brewster, Gary Parker, Jr. and Tristan Brock; great-grandchildren, Jasmine Hall, MacKenzie Belcher, Tristan Walls, Jordan Hall, Parker Groves, Brayden Johnson and Lynlee Whitehead; great-great-grandson, Dominic Arroyo; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Bill and Margie Parker of Calhoun, GA, and John and Linda Parker of Knoxville, TN; a very special companion and burglar alarm, her little Maltese, Fluff; caregivers, Nancy Smith and Joan Gazaway; and several nieces and nephews.
Services to celebrate the life of Mrs. Edna Lee Saylor Parker will be held Thursday, Oct. 6, at 2 p.m. at Ponders Melrose Chapel with her pastor, Reverend Bruce Beach officiating. Music will be provided by Eric Blalock. Honored to serve as pallbearers will be, Gary Parker, Jr., Parker Groves, Brayden Johnson, Jerry Belcher, Jr., Dale Brewster, Avery Bell, Mark Roach, Tristan Walls and Jordan Hall.
Entombment will follow in the Parker Family Mausoleum at Ponders Whitfield Memorial Gardens and Mausoleum.
The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday and after 11 a.m. Thursday until the service hour.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.pondersfuneralhome.com.
Ponders Melrose Chapel, 138 Melrose Dr., Dalton, GA 30721, (706) 226-4002.