John Parham

PARHAM, Mr. John O. - Age 75, passed away Saturday, December 22, 2007 at his residence. Family hour 1:30PM Saturday, December 29, 2007 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing immediately at 2PM. Rev. Jonathan Graves officiating. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home 1:30PM Saturday. There will be no public viewing. Mr. John Oliver Parham was born August 2, 1932 in Princeton, Kentucky, the son of Rev. Judges and Bessie Parham. He was employed by the Buena Vista School District for 34 years and retired in 1997 where he had served as Vice Principal and various other administrative positions through out his career which included but was not limited to: Student Guideline Committee member, development member of "Community Action" with school Administrators and Board Members, Temple Theater Arts Association Committee Member, Saginaw City Recreation Softball Supervisor, Established the Buena Vista High School Gospel Choir in 1979. Prior to moving to Saginaw, Michigan in 1962, he was employed as a History instructor and the Principal of Northside Elementary School in Rose Hill, Mississippi. His love for working with children was continued in his church home in Saginaw through serving 27 years as the Sunday School Superintendent for St. Luke C.M.E. Church where he began the Sunday School Volunteer Breakfast with his wife. Mr. Parham also served faithfully as the Christian Youth Fellowship Coordinator for 25 years, the Senior Choir Librarian, a member of the Mass Choir and Male Chorus, was a devoted member of the Steward Board and the Personnel Committee under the leadership of Elder Aaron McFadden. John later moved to Flint in 1999 where he served as Sunday School Superintendent for St. John Missionary Baptist Church and a member of the Voices of St. John Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Ira Jenkins. In 2003 Vermont Christian became John's permanent Church home where he was active until his health declined while under the leadership of Rev. Burton. John enjoyed writing Gospel songs and prayers. Mr. John Oliver Parham leaves to cherish his memory; loving and devoted wife, Lydia W. Parham; 2 daughters, Tamara (Michael) Justino, Sr. of Fort Carson, CO, Samara L. Wickliffe, Ann Arbor, MI; 1 son, Terry (Sabrina) Parham; mother-in-law, Audrey Sims; 3 sisters, Jean P. Malden, Montgomery, AL, Ann Parham, Detroit, MI and Beverly Sims; 2 brothers, Jerome (Diane) Sims, Killeen, TX, Darrell L. Sims, Flint, MI; 4 grandchildren, Re-Ali Parham and Re-now Parham, both of Sun Valley, CA, Michael Jr. and Gabriel Justino, both of Fort Carson, CO; nieces, Ivy Joyce Malden, Denver, CO, Clarice Mastin, Tynee' Sims, Destiny Sims; nephews, Michael Malden, Jerome Sims Jr., Mathew Sims; a host of relatives including Uncle Franklin W. (Geraldine) Pleasant, II, Flint; cousins, Stephanie (Clifford) Whiteside, Lansing, MI and Franklin W. Pleasant, III, Flint; special friends, Herman (Margaret) Thompson, Tucson, AZ, Mrs. Olean Bodiford, Saginaw, MI, and the Vermont Christian Church and St. Luke C. M. E. Church Families. Mr. Parham was preceded in death by his mother and father; brothers, James Parham and Spurgeon Malden; and friend, Riley Hurt. The family would like to express a very special thanks to Dr. Bachuwa and Staff, Dr. Ali Mahommed, DaVita Dialysis Center Staff, and Heartland Hospice; The Hoey Family and the Clark Family.

John Parham

August 2, 1932 - December 22, 2007