Miranda “Randy” Duncan Parks, one of the Lord’s kindest, most compassionate gifts to humanity, passed gently into sweet eternity after a period of declining health on Saturday, August 1, 2015.
“Her children arise up, and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praiseth her.” That was Randy Parks who was born in Athens, Georgia but raised in Gainesville, graduating from Gainesville High School in 1952.
“Can you believe it?” she once asked in her lilting drawl. “I was in the first class they made go for 12 years.” Then adding with a laugh. “That’s just my luck.” She attended Wesleyan College in Macon but spent every day of her life educating herself through experience, adventure and reading, particularly poetry which filled her heart with joy.
Other than an immense dislike for cooking, she was the quintessential Southern woman who was feminine, always looked like a million dollars, polished, loved all things that sparkled, wrote perfectly worded thank you notes in lovely script, adored cats, spent hours fussing over the arrangement of flowers, was dedicated to needlepoint, appreciated art painted by the impressionists such as Van Gogh and Monet and knew always the starting line-up of the Atlanta Braves and Falcons as well as the football and basketball teams of the Georgia Bulldogs. She was an avid NASCAR fan, one who followed stock car racing long before it caught on with mainstream audiences. From poetry to politics to sports to flowers to the Bible, she was conversational and knowledgeable.
She often proclaimed that, aside from her family, her greatest accomplishment was achieving the hard-to-attain level of “nationally accredited flower show judge.” She was, in fact, a charter member of the Dig and Sprig Garden Club, a member of Phats Girls, Stitch In needlepoint group, an active member of the Northeast Georgia History Center and a faithful member of First United Methodist Church, Gainesville.
Randy and Ed enjoyed tremendously their second home in Highlands, NC and the many friends they had there as well as their second home church, Highlands United Methodist Church.
Above all, she was kind to everyone she met and always believed in lifting up others through encouragement and praise. Her home-going leaves a deep sadness in the hearts of her family and friends who survive her: Ed, her husband of 61 years, Gainesville; daughter and son-in-law, Edna and Jim Haywood, Tucker; son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Chris Parks, Gainesville; granddaughter and husband, Jennifer and Ross Boner, Charlotte, NC; grandson Michael Haywood, Tucker; granddaughter, Miranda Parks, Greenville, SC, great-grandchildren, Mary Ansleigh and Penland Boner, Charlotte, Brother-in-Law Leonard and Nancy Parks, Gainesville and many nieces and nephews. She was loved as a second mother to many, something which delighted her immeasurably. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Bess Duncan.
A Celebration of Randy’s blessed and glorious life will be held on Tuesday, August 4th at 2 p.m. at Memorial Park North Funeral Home Riverside Chapel. Visitation will be held Monday, August 3rd from 5PM – 7PM at the Riverside Chapel and immediately following the Celebration.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Randy’s name to Victory Junction, a fun camp which serves seriously ill children, 4500 Adams Way, Randleman, NC 27401 or the Northeast Georgia History Center, 322 Academy Street, Gainesville, GA 30501. Nothing, though, would honor Randy more than a special gesture of compassion or a word of kindness performed in her memory.
Arrangements by: Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel
989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, GA 30501
770-297-620
