William Preston Parker, Jr.

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William P. Parker, Jr. was born at home in Nicholls, Georgia the last of four children and the only son of William Preston Parker, Sr. (1867-1919) and Vicar Bowers Parker (1879-1963). He attended Asbury Methodist College in Willmore, Kentucky, but had to drop out when his sister died. Following in his father's footsteps, Bill began working for the railroad as a telegraph operator in 1922 at the ripe old age of 16.

He moved to Savannah, Georgia from Jacksonville, Florida in 1927. He soon became quite the "man about town" in Savannah in the late 20's and early 30's and could often be found dancing at The Rathskeller at The DeSoto Hotel or at The Tybrisa Pavillion on Tybee Island. He once took first place in a "Charleston Contest" at "The Bucket of Blood" in Jacksonville, Florida. After being admitted to practice law in Georgia in 1937, he married Nell Cole Goodson (1918-2005) on June 24, 1938 at Saint John's Episcopal Church. The newlyweds immediately departed for Key West , Florida in their 1934 Graham Roadster, stopping to visit relatives along the way, then embarking by steamship for a honeymoon in Havana, Cuba. Returning to Savannah, Bill designed and built a garage apartment where the young couple lived during WWII.

A lifelong believer in the health benefits of regular excercise, Bill resumed playing squash, lifting weights and working out at the YMCA . In 1945, Bill was transferred by the Seaboard Railway to Miami, Florida to act as claim agent.

Following the birth of their son, Richard Lowell Parker (1946- ) they moved back to Savannah to be near family. In 1947, they opened a small laundry, the Washeteria, at 1511 Paulsen Street which Nell operated. Bill subsequently became a pioneer in the coin-operated laundry business , eventually owning five establishments simultaneously, while continuing to work six days a week for the railroad.

He retired in 1971 after 49 years of service. Bill was a proud member of The Sons of the Revolution, being descended from a long line of Parkers going all the way back in this country to 1649. In retirement, Bill loved visiting and calling his many relatives or just relaxing with his family and friends. In his later years, he enjoyed The Lawrence Welk Show. Bill walked three miles a day until he was 90 and drove his station wagon around town up until he was 94. He was very fond of animals and especially of cats. Bill enjoyed one last Thanksgiving meal with his family and suffered a stroke the following day. He contracted pneumonia in the hospital and passed away peacefully one week later in the company of his wife and son. After his death his daily dairies for the years 1934-1945 were discovered in a trunk in the attic.