Wanda Summerford Parker

Wanda Summer ford Parker, 72, of Marshall and Forney, Texas, constant prankster, donut lover, yellow dog Democrat, avid painter and accomplished traveler, passed away Thursday, April 10, 2014 in Dallas, Texas after a brief illness. Trudis Awanda (Wanda) Summerford Parker was a character; effervescent and sharply funny. Her laugh was head-thrownback contagious. She devised elaborate pranks that weren’t always appreciated... except by her. Her storytelling is legend. To this day no one knows what was true and what was “just embellished a little.” A self-proclaimed “poor, forgotten middle child,” Wanda was born July 5, 1941 in Marshall to Thomas Cherry Solomon and Trudis Lisenby Solomon. She was a cheerleader and a Football Sweetheart, graduating from Marshall High School in 1959. She attended The University of Texas at Austin where she was a member of Delta Zeta sorority. Despite her brothers’ constant taunts that she was adopted, she was actually the only child to have her father’s jet black hair. She is survived by her loving husband and best friend, Andy Parker; son, Keith Summerford and wife Rhonda of Sarasota, Florida; daughter, Sharon Kay Summerford of Schererville, Indiana; daughter, Cynthia Summerford Birdwell of Houston, Texas; daughter, Jennifer Summerford Colby and husband Hayden of Trinity, Texas; stepson Jeff Parker and wife Stacey of Allen, Texas; and stepdaughter Jennifer Parker Biddenstadt of Forney, Texas. Numerous grandchildren: Steven Summerford, Ryan Summerford, Emeline Birdwell, Everett Colby, Gideon Colby, Wharton Colby, Bailey Colby, Augustine Colby, Bennett Parker, Dayton Parker, Channing Parker and Haley Biddenstadt, and great-grandchild Annabelle Summerford. She is also survived by brother, Toddy Solomon; sister, Sharon O’Neal; sister, Kay Andrews and husband Fred; brother, Walter Solomon and wife Carolyn, along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Wanda was preceded in death by her husband and father of her children, E. Wayne Summerford. They met when Wanda was a contestant in the Miss Marshall pageant, and he was a judge. She still didn’t win. Memorial services for Wanda will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 26 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Marshall, with Father John Himes officiating. Visitation, reminiscence and storytelling will be Friday, April 25 from 6-8 p.m. at Sullivan Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Hospice of East Texas, In Memory of Trudis Summerford Parker, 4111 University Boulevard, Tyler, Texas 75701.

 

Forney Messenger

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