Rev. William Hall Parker Jr.

William Hall Parker, third pastor of Jones Creek and son of William Hall and Anna Susannah (Hiers) Parker, was born in Colleton District, SC on June 30, 1811. His parents moved to Liberty County, Georgia when he was only a few months old and settled near Jones Creek Church.

He married Sarah Jane Carter, a daughter of David and Rachel (Cooper) Carter and made his home a few miles north of present Ludowici in what was McIntosh County until 1871.

In July 1831 he was baptized a member of Jones Creek Church. “His serious demeanor, consecration and faithfulness were such that the church thought proper to call for his ordination in 1840, but owing to a reluctance and feeling of inadequacy on his part, he was not licensed until November 27, 1842.” Two years later on October 27, 1844 he was ordained to the ministry. He was selected by the church in August 1845 to assist the Reverend Moses Westberry in the performance of his duties as pastor. He served five times as pastor of the church. During the Civil War, he was postmaster at Johnston Station (now Ludowici).

He suffered a stroke several years before his death which affected both his mental and physical abilities and confined him to home. This is his obituary from “The Christian Index”:

Rev. William H. Parker, the subject of this notice, was born in Colleton District, South Carolina, on the 30th day of June, 1811. While quite small his father emigrated to Liberty county, Ga., which community he lived up to the time of his death, which occurred Nov. 16, 1887.

Thus passed away one of God’s faithful and devoted ministers. He united with the Baptist church at Jones’ Creek, July 1831, soon after was chosen by the church as deacon, which office he filled well; and on Nov. 27, 1842, was licensed by his church to exercise his gifts and qualificatinos; which he did with great satisfaction. Subsequently, in October, 1844, he was ordained to the gospel ministry. Truly Brother Parker was not an educated man: but by constant perusal and careful study of the Scriptures, he became a very acceptable and useful minister; serving a number of churches, always contending for the faith once delivered to the saints. His labors were chiefly confined to a comparatively small territory; but by his energy and fervent zeal, was the means in God’s hand in building up many of the waste places in his Holy Zion. For several years before his death, his usefulness was measurably cut off by a suddden stroke of paralysis, which so affected his mental, as well as his physical powers, he was compelled to remain at home; but to the last, manifested the same love, ardor, and zeal for the glorious cause of his heavenly Master. In the death of this pious and once useful man, the church has lost one of its most ancient land-marks, and the community a most worthy example; and his aged and amiable companion, a loving husband; and his children (only two out of eleven) which survive him, an affectionate father.

[filed by H.F. Horne, S. M. Chapman, T. Harrington, Committee]

Main source: “A History of Jones Creek Baptist Church”