Funeral services for William Jim Parks, of the Barlow Community, were 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8, at Brookhaven Funeral Home on North Jackson Street, with burial in Wesson Cemetery.

     Mr. Parks, 77, died 5 p.m. on Friday, May 4, 2012, at his home. He was born in Newton County on Feb. 20, 1935, to Otis Olen and Inez Parks.

     He married Mary Marilyn White Parks and they were married for 55 years. Mr. Parks went into the U.S. Air Force in 1953 during the Korean War. He spent ten years in the Air Force. He was a member of the American Legion, the Barlow Volunteer Fire Department and of Decell Methodist Church in Wesson. Mr. Parks was an instructor at Copiah-Lincoln Community College and Hinds Community College. He retired with 26 1/2 years as an instructor in 1991. He worked on the space program for two years as an engineer for the SCI Systems. Mr. Parks belonged to disability organizations and worked with special needs children. He and his wife helped start the special needs rodeo. They started the Dustin Ray Memorial Fund so special needs children could go to summer camp. Mr. Parks was a Boy Scout leader and a loving father and grandfather.

     Preceding him in death were his parents; a brother, Victor Olen Parks; and a grandson, Dustin Ray Parks.

     Survivors are his wife, Mary Marilyn White Parks; sisters, Waudine Chaney and Martha Dearing; brother, Otis Wayne Parks; children, Katherine McGrew, Joyce Richardson, Billy Richard Parks, David Olen Parks and William Ray Parks; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

     Mr. Parks was a loved and respected friend to all who knew him.

     Please do not send flowers. Make donations to the Dustin Ray Parks Memorial Fund to send special needs children to summer camp: Dustin Ray Parks Memorial Fund c/o ARC of Mississippi, 7 Lakeland Circle #600, Jackson, MS 39216.