Family and friends, along with several county officials and dignitaries, attended an Oct. 16 dedication ceremony for the late Dr. Beverly Parker Conference Room at the Ben J. Rogers Regional Visitors Center in Beaumont.
Parker died April 25 at age 86 – a month after her husband, the late Senator Carl Parker, died March 22.
“Kind, caring and humble, and a devoted wife, mother and grandmother,” Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” Program founder Regina Rogers said of Parker, who was also, “a passionate educator, first teaching in elementary school at St Joseph Catholic Church and then at Lamar Port Arthur for 31 years.”
Rogers stated it was interesting that Parker was encouraged as a child by her parents “to be a help to those who needed it the most, every day of her life.”
“She worked tirelessly to improve the live of others,” Rogers added, noting that, many years ago, she was honored to present Parker with a Lamar University Community Service Award named for Rogers’ parents, the late Ben and Julie Rogers. She was surprised to learn that Parker was involved in more than 12 organizations that “depended on her leadership and guidance,” including the Jefferson County Tourism Committee since 2007.
According to Rogers, many people didn’t know Parker was an ovarian cancer survivor for more than 20 years.
“She was a strong advocate for educating women about the importance of early detection,” Rogers remembered of Parker. “She was a generous supporter of our Gift of Life program to bring awareness to others.”
Parker was also the 2023 recipient of the Shining Light Award for her support of the Gift of Life organization.
“And, when her ovarian cancer reoccurred,” Rogers went on to say, “she was courageous, strong and brave – and concerned only about the wellbeing of Carl and her family, never leaving his side as she cared for him, her partner of 64 years until he passed away five weeks before she did and she knew then and there she must join him.”
“It was these relationships with family and friends that gave meaning to Beverly’s life. Beverly continually reminded us that love is the most powerful force in the universe and there still is abundant goodness in the world and hope for a better future.”
Allen Parker said his mother would be proud of having the conference room named in her honor.
“She would be embarrassed that y’all took this much time in doing this for her,” he laughed. “She would then make the ‘best-ever cookies,’ deliver them to y’all with a handwritten note thanking y’all for your time and how y’all shouldn’t put forth this effort and wasting this money and taxpayer dollars to put something on for her.”
Daughter Chris Parker noted that her mother hated being in the spotlight, unlike her father.
“She did a lot that she didn’t want people to know,” she said. “That’s how she rolled, opposite of her husband.”
Rev. Jim Fuller said he pastored Carl and Beverly Parker for three years before retiring in 2021.
“To be Carl’s pastor was a full-time job,” he said. “But being Beverly’s pastor was a joy and a blessing, and the easiest thing to do.”
Those close to Beverly Parker extolled her impact, not only on Southeast Texas, but also on Southeast Texans.
“She was not only the chair of the Jefferson County Tourism Committee for over 24 years, but she was also my friend and mentor,” Ben J. Rogers Regional Visitors Center Director Kathi Weathington Hughes said of Parker. “Dr. Parker was a guiding light for our committee and led with fairness and eloquence. We are blessed to have this room dedicated to her so we can always have a part of her with us at our visitors” center. She is loved and missed beyond measure.”
Also speaking at the dedication were County Judge Jeff Branick, former county judge Carl Griffith, Commissioner Michael Shane Sinegal and Christina Crawford.
According to Beverly Parker’s obituary, in 1975, she was invited to create a business etiquette class at Port Arthur College (now Lamar State College Port Arthur) and loved the challenges and rewards of teaching at the college level. She earned a master’s degree (Lamar University) and a PhD (University of Houston) in political science and continued her career at LSCPA until she retired in 2006.
In her 31-year career at LSCPA, Parker served as chair of the Liberal Arts Department and chair of the Distinguished Speaker Series, as well as organized and joined the LSCPA FacultySenate. She was active with the YMCA, Recovery Center for Southeast Texas, Jefferson County Visitor’s Bureau, Service League of Port Arthur and Gulf Coast Gala. She was a member of the Jefferson County Central Appraisal Review Board until last year, when she resigned at age 85.