Dianne (Ledford) Parker

Dianne Ledford Parker, 75, of Statesville, passed away Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at Gordon Hospice House.

Mrs. Parker was born, February 15, 1947, in Clinton, SC, the daughter of the late Wyatt Ledford and Buddie Childs Ledford.  Dianne was a graduate of Clinton High School, Columbia College and received her master’s degree from Appalachian State University.  She married her beloved husband Mike, in January 1984, they shared more than 38 years together before her passing.  She was a retired speech pathologist with the Iredell-Statesville School System and was a member of First Baptist Church.

Dianne had many roles in her life.  Among them, she was a daughter, a granddaughter, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, an educator, and a friend.  She filled each role with an infectious smile and personality, always positive and energetic.  As a daughter, she loved school, dance classes, and family pets.  As a granddaughter, she adored MeMa and Granny, Daddy Joe, and Daddy Roy. As a mother, she raised her children with love and guidance.  One of the roles that brought her some of her greatest joy was that of grandmother, loving those five grandsons.  And just last year, she became a great-grandmother, finally getting that little girl to dote on.  One of her best roles was that of wife, a companion with which to share life, love and adventure.  She loved their travels that ranged from New York City to Hawaii to Europe.  She loved tennis, pickle ball, the Panthers, ACC basketball and the Crossroads Chevy Club. One of her most important roles was that of educator.  "Her kids" loved getting out of regular class to go down the hall to Mrs. Parker's speech classes, 'cause she made it fun.  And then there's the role of friend.  She had so many friends to whom she was loyal, supportive, and fun.  And they were all that back to her.

Those left to cherish Dianne’s memory include her husband, Mike, her daughter, Jan Childs (Scooter), her sons Ryan Parker (Kelly), Jay Davis (Jennifer), her grandsons, Jake Smith (Amanda), Marshall Davis (Kaitlyn), Alex Parker, Wyatt Davis, and Zeb Davis, her great granddaughter, Avery Smith, and her brother-in-law, Nelson Parker (Brenda).

A funeral service to celebrate the life of Dianne Parker will be conducted 2:00 pm, Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at First Baptist Church, Reverend Nelson Granade will officiate.  The family will visit with friends at the church prior to the funeral from 12:30-2:00 pm.  Burial will follow the service at Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests those wishing to make memorials consider, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, Lake Norman Humane Society, 2106 Charlotte Hwy, Mooresville, NC 28117, or First Baptist Church, 815 Davie Ave., Statesville, NC 28677.  Online condolences may be made to the Parker family at www.troutmanfuneralhome.com

The family wishes to extend their special thanks to Dr. Pam Westmoreland-Sholar and staff and to the staff of Hospice of Iredell County for their love and care.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-805-5856
Web: http://www.stjude.org/

Lake Norman Humane
2106 Charlotte Hwy, Mooresville NC 28117
Tel: 1-704-663-3330

First Baptist Church
815 Davie Ave., Statesville NC 28677