Brenda Miller Parker, 77, of 120 Thomas Rock Drive, Harmony, N.C., spread her wings on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the Gordon Hospice House following an extended illness. She was born in Iredell County on July 8, 1948, and was the daughter of the late Willie Lee Miller and Louise Turner Miller.
Brenda was a graduate of Morningside High School, Class of 1967. She furthered her education at Harris Barber College in Raleigh, N.C., where she became a licensed barber in August of 1968.
On January 1, 1969, Brenda Miller married her high school sweetheart, Willard Eugene Parker, who passed away in May of 2020. Brenda and Willard were married for 51 years.
In addition to her husband Willard Parker, and parents Willie and Louise Miller, Brenda was preceded in death by infant sister, Vonnie Miller; half sister, Daisy Ann Holmes; sister, Mary Ann Gordie; sister, Mildred Louise Miller Scott; brother, Willie Edward Miller; nephew, Timothy Enoch Miller; niece, April Michelle Stinson, sister-in-law Linda Kay Bailey; brother-in-law Robert Lee Gordie Sr.; brother-in-law Joe Neil Scott Sr., and her best friend and sister-in-law, Annie Lee Kinney.
She was a member of Rocky Creek A.M.E. Zion Church in Harmony, N.C.
She is survived by her daughter, Denise Parker Gillespie (Todd) of Harmony, N.C.; granddaughter, Iesha Gillespie (Lamar) of Mooresville, N.C.; grandson, TJ “Heavy ” Gillespie (Madison) of Yadkinville, N.C.; great grandson, Lawson Gillespie of Mooresville, N.C.; two great granddaughters, Trinity Gillespie of Mooresville, N.C., and Harlowe Gillespie of Yadkinville, N.C.; brother, Kenneth Miller of Statesville, N.C.; cousin, Adell White (Frank) of Statesville, N.C.; sisters-in-law, Maggie Stinson, Peggy Morrison (Tyrone), and Josephine Miller, brother-in-law Leonard Kinney Sr., all of Statesville, N.C.; special nephew and niece, Robert Gordie Jr. and Kizler Kinney Heaggans, both of Statesville, N.C.; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and special friends.
Mrs. Parker will lie in repose at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, from 2 until 5 p.m. and again on Thursday, September 11, 2025, from 9 to 10:45 a.m. A celebration of life service will be conducted from 11 a.m. to 12 noon on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Bunch- Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at the Salisbury National Cemetery in Salisbury, N.C.
The family of Mrs. Brenda Parker extends a heartfelt thank you to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County and the staff of the Gordon Hospice House, Statesville Family Practice, Jessica Wood FNP-BC; Iredell Nephrology Center, Dr. Willie R Whitaker, MD and InStride Carolina Foot Care Associates PLLC, Dr. Shalonda Davidson, DPM. In addition, many thanks are extended to Reverend Will Funderburk, Pastor Teresa Stafford, Reverend Marcus Farmer, Pastor Keisha Minor Carr and Brother Freddie Morrison.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com.
Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home of Statesville is honored to be entrusted with the care of Mrs. Parker and her family.