SALISBURY, Md.- A well-known and respected former Wicomico County politician has passed away. Henry Parker died Sunday, Sept. 2, at his Salisbury home. He was 90. People who knew the former council president said Parker accomplished a lot in his life, as both a politician and active member of the community.
Parker was a life-long resident of Wicomico County and loved his community passionately.
His resume is a long one: he served 30 years on the Wicomico Board of Elections; 16 on the County Council; president of the Salisbury Jaycees; and was an active member of his church.
But perhaps more impressive than his many accomplishments is the legacy he leaves behind.
Parker never had children. Yet, he was a friend and father figure to many, including Wicomico County Director of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Gary Mackes.
"Henry Parker lives in a lot of us and certainly he lives with me," he said. "Every day we've talked, for the last 30 years and he's put a lot of wisdom into me in the way he thinks and the same for the love that we have for this community."
Parker was instrumental in many projects across Wicomico County, especially the building of the sports complex named after him in 1998.
That is just one of the reasons Phil Tilghman, who served as a council member alongside Parker, describes him as a "visionary" who "got things done."
"He thought about people," Tilghman noted. "I mean, recreation, parks was very, very dear to his heart because he wanted people to have a place to enjoy themselves in parks and in recreation."
Parker served in the Army during World War II and married his wife, Nellie, before returning home to Salisbury.
You could say community service and politics ran in Parker's blood. His father was mayor of Salisbury and the driving force behind the Salisbury City Park.
Council Administrator Matt Creamer said he looked to Parker as not only a boss but also a friend.
"He was just a wonderful, wonderful person," Creamer said. "I think to describe Henry best would be his humility. He was a very, very humble man. His love of people and there just wasn't anything that meant more to him than Wicomico County."
A celebration of Henry Parker's life will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Salisbury.
In addition to his political and community service, Parker and his late wife established a scholarship fund to award a Wicomico County resident every year. Parker requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the scholarship fund. Contributions can be sent to the Henry S. Parker and Nellie T. Parker Scholarship Fund, Wor-Wic Foundation, 32000 Campus Drive, Salisbury, MD 21804.
Checks should be made payable to Wor-Wic Community College Foundation.
Henry Parker
