Mrs. Winnie Parker

Winnie Grace Byrd Parker, beloved daughter of the late Garfield and Ethel Byrd, was born on August 29, 1950 in Mappsville, Virginia. She departed this life on November 22, 2024 at her daughter’s residence in Parksley, Virginia.

Winnie was educated in the public schools of Accomack County. She entered the workforce and worked in several industries, lastly Tyson Foods, where she worked until her retirement.

Winnie was affectionately known as “Puffy” by her husband, Steven Parker. They shared many years of love and laughter.

In her leisure, Winnie enjoyed cooking, writing poems, and playing spades. Her favorite pastime was shopping on Temu. Winnie was known for her stylish appearance. Whenever she stepped out her outfit, shoes, accessories, especially her sunglasses had to match. Her fingernails and toenails also had to have matching polish at all times. If she saw a woman without earrings, she would fuss because she said women should never leave home without a pair of earrings. Winnie always kept an immaculate house that was filled with dolphins. She had a collection of hundreds of dolphins.

Family was extremely important to Winnie and she cherished all the moments she was able to spend with them. They meant the world to her and she meant the world to them as well. During her illness whenever she didn’t like what you said to her she would look up at you and she would talk with her eyes or poke her lips out to let them know how she felt.

In addition to her parents, Winnie was preceded in death by her grandparents, James and Rachel Downing; and brothers, Lonnie, Jhonnie, Garfield, Jr., and Jerome.

Left to cherish her loving memory are her husband, Steven Parker; five children, Sabrina (Andre) Griffin, Eric Byrd, Julia (Shawn) Branch, Adrian O. Cropper, Sr., and Julius Cropper, Jr.; one granddaughter, Tahmiya Carroll; twelve grandsons, Tralvis Griffin, Delshawn Griffin, Travar Cropper, Sr., Kentray Bailey, Marquell Washington, Brendon Poulson, Adrian Cropper, Jr., Dadrian Cropper, Christopher Cropper, Jhaihye Cropper, Elijah Cropper, and Jamari Cropper; seventeen great-grandchildren; nine siblings, William Byrd, Phyllis (Kevin) Lewis, Warner Byrd, Larry Byrd, Pauline Crawley, Reginald Byrd, Sylvester (Wanda) Byrd, Valerie Townsend, and Antonio (Audran) Downing; aunt, Oletha Bloxom; uncle, Dennis (Cindy) Byrd; brother-in-law, Terry Parker; two special friends, Regina Custis and Donna Roeske; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Lovingly and sorrowfully submitted,
The Family

Funeral services for Mrs. Winnie Parker, also known as “Puffy” of New Church, will be conducted on Saturday at 3PM from First Baptist Church, Mappsville, with Rev. Fred Crawley officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Family and friends may call on Friday from 12-1 at the funeral home.

Arrangements by the Cooper & Humbles Funeral Co., Accomac.