Dr. Raleigh Parker dies; served
as college trustee for 26 years
DR. W. RALEIGH PARKER
Served Six Terms as
Board Chairman
Dr. W. Raleigh Parker, Sr., 89,
long-time Chowan College trustee
and supporter, died Nov. 9. The
Menola native served as a trustee
for the college for 26 years in
cluding six years as chairman.
Dr. Parker began his trustee
service at Chowan in 1944 when
the college closed due to a shor
tage of students during World
War II. He played a leading role
in the reopening of the college in
1949.
Parker was presented a Cita
tion for Meritorious Service by
Continued from Page 1
being, Mrs. White exclaimed. “She
loved people. Children would sit at
her feet for hours to hear her tell
stories about life and experiences,
She appealed to the young and old
and in between.”
“To Memoralize His Wife”
After Jo’s death, Mr. Cooper ex
pressed to Mrs. White an interest
in leaving a gift to Chowan to
memoralize his wife. Mrs. White
provided him with imformation to
asquaint him with the present-day
Chowan. During one of his visits
with the Whites, she arranged for
Mr. Cooper to visit the campus and
meet President Bruce Whitaker.
Following this visit he announced
he would leave his estate to the col
lege and donate items from his
wife’s collection to form a perma
nent display as a visible memorial
to Jo. These items include tole
trays and boxes, puctures and a
bowl, all painted by Jo; and anti
que Thistle glass. Dr. Whitaker
said the College plans to place the
items “which he called priceless,”
on permanent display.
Commented Dr. Whitaker, “The
story of the courageous life of Jo
Piland Cooper is an inspiration to
all who hear it. In spite of her
physical handicap, she lived a full
and productive life. She brought
jpy and light to many people, both
through her lovely paintings and
her wonderful spirit. It is very ap-
propraite that this substantial gift
be made in her memory to
Chowan, her alma mater with chse
loved and her she mem her hus-*
THECHOWANIAN
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Chowan College, Murfreesboro, North
Corolino, a stondord junior college
controlled by the Baptist State Conven
tion of North Carolina and founded in
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College. Murfreesboro. North Caroline
27855.
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PAID AT
MURFREESBORO. N. C. 27855
the Board of Trustees in
February, 1975. A portrait of Dr.
Parker was presented to the col
lege by family members in May
of this year.
Parker was a general practi
tioner in Woodland from 1918 to
1937 and was public health direc
tor of Northampton, Hertford and
Gates counties from 1937-1968.
He attended Wake Forest
University, graduated from the
Medical College of Virginia in
Richmond, and did his postdoc-
band. It is the students who will
benefit from this gift, and I know
that wi what Jo Piland Cooper
would want the most.”
Continued Dr. Whitaker, “Our
thoughts of appreciaton also turn
to David Henry cooper. His gift to
memoralize his wife will help
young men and womne both now
and for years to come. ”
Dr. Whitaker thanked Mr. and
Mrs. White for their assistance
with the trust fund gift received by
Chowan and many services over
the years on behalf of the college
and the cause of Christian higher
education.
Freshmen elect
1982 offic s
The freshman class has elected
officers for the current school
year, with Steve Banks of
Gloucester serving as president.
Serving with Banks is Rufus
Sims of Winston-Salem, as vice-
president. Marci Loux of
Hockessin, Delaware, was elected
secretary, along with Jeannette
Harrell of Whitakers as treasurer.
The freshman class is currently
raising funds to sponsor projects to
benefit needy area residents. Last
year, the freshmen sponsored a
Christmas dinner for area senior
citizens.
Class sponsor, Roy Winslow,
associate dean of students, praised
the officers for their overall
leadership and the entire freshman
class for its involvement in helping
others.
In Memoriam
1908
Mrs. Lucy Freeman Boone Taylor
1925
Mrs. Helen Brett Byrum
toral work at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Served in Navy
During World War I, he was a
lieutenant conunander and a
medical surgeon in the Navy.
A pioneer in public health work
in North Carolina, he was
recognized by the state and
federal government for his
special pilot projects.
Parker was one of the
originators of Tri-County Airport
and had served on its board. In
addition, he was one of the
founders of Roanoke-Chowan
Hospital in Ahoskie and was
regional director of the American
Red Cross Mobile Organization in
southeastern Virginia and nor
theastern North Carolina.
The deceased was a former
member of Woodland Board of
Education and the Woodland
Town Councl and a member of
the Northampton County Board
of Education,
Parker was a member of the
Woodland Baptist Church, where
he was a deacon and a past Sun
day School teacher. He was also a
member of the Poticasi Masonic
Lodge. He was one of the original
members of the Hertford County
Com Qub, which became the 4-H
Club.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife,
Mary Ella Copeland Parker; two
daughters, Mrs. Walter
Reinhardt of Woodland and Mrs.
William W. Hill of Murfreesboro;
a son. Dr. W. R. Parker, Jr., of
Rocky Mount; two sisters, Mrs.
Clifton Parker, Sr., of Roanoke
Rapids, and Mrs. Lee Parker of
Raleigh; a stepsister, Mrs. R. L.
Holloman, Jr., of Point Harbor;
four grandchildren; and two
great-grandchildren.
A funeral was held on Nov. 11 in
Woodland Baptist Church by Dr.
Alston Staples, the Rev. Lamar
Wheeler and Dr. Bruce E.
Whitaker. Entombment was in
Woodland Cemetery Mausoleum.
Memorial donations may be
sent to the Dr. Raleigh Parker
Scholarship Fund at Chowan Col
lege.
Page 2—The Chowanion, December, 1982
Sculpture discussed by artist
Artist Isobel Levitt of Durham, right, discusses one of her sculptures of familiar family scenes which
were on exhibit during October in Green Hall. Shown with the artist ore, from left, professors Rinda
Metz, David Parker, and Stanley Mitchell. Levitt, assistant professor of art at North Carolina Central
University, also presented a slide show and lecture on her work to Chowan art students.
Large gift provided as
memorial to Coopers