Roberta Parker

Roberta Ann (Boyd) Parker peacefully transitioned from this life on January 25, 2023, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at the age of 86. She was preceded in death by her first-born son, Billy Parker; her former husband, Willie B. Parker, her oldest daughter, LaCondra Ann Parker, and siblings: Rosalie Rayford, Robert Boyd Jr., Conchita Tarpley and Edward Boyd.

Roberta, affectionately known as Bert, “Ma Park”, Aunt Bert, or Grandma, was born on October 14th 1936, in Toledo, OH to Robert Henry Boyd and Julia Ann (Bennett) Boyd. There she attended and graduated from Edward Drummond Libby High School. She moved to Washington DC in 1968 and begin working for the federal government. She retired from the Department of Treasury in 1999 with over 30 years of service. In 1975 Roberta graduated from Southeastern University in Washington DC with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. From 1976-1978 Roberta moonlighted as a night-school teacher at Bladensburg High school in Bladensburg, Maryland. 

Roberta loved church and loved singing for the lord.  She was an active member of Upper Room Baptist Church in Washington DC, where she sang in the choir and was a Girl Scout leader for several years. She later joined Greater Mt. Calvary Church in Washington DC, where she also sang in the choir for many years. 

Roberta will forever be remembered for her love and compassion for her family, her love of crossword puzzles, and her famous catch-phrases like, “Somebody’s CRAZY”, and “There they go on that SOAP-BOX”.  Roberta never smoked, never cursed, and never drank alcohol. She was truly a purified spirit and heaven’s gift to the earth! She will be sorely missed.

She was the loving mother of two surviving children: Lisa Marie Tillery (Youngsville, NC) and Timothy Edward Parker (Washington DC). She is also survived by 6 grandchildren: Tiffany, Ricardo, Ericka, Nikisha, LaShawn and Bria; 9 great-grandchildren: Corey, D’Tavion, Layanna (Tink), Kreaisha, Markeith, Queirra (Que), Khamari and Emanual, as well as 2 very recent great-great-grandchildren; her sister, Sylvia Tarpley (Uniontown, PA); Roberta is also survived by her beloved first cousins, Lyman A. Connor [Junior] (and Nancy) from North Carolina, Shirley Beck from Maryland, Audrey B. Jenkins from California, Marva Maxine Boyd from Ohio, Beverly Ann Boyd (and Edward) from Ohio, William Edward Boyd [Sonny] (and Janie) from Maryland, Margie Delores Boyd from Pittsburgh, and many nieces and nephews, and even more extended family and friends.

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