EURE – Carolyn Mitchell Parker, 72, of 1316 Hwy 137, Eure, passed away on Thursday, September 14, 2017 in her home where she was surrounded by her family.

Mrs. Parker was born in Hertford County on April 26, 1945, and was the daughter of the late Horace P. and Harriett Eure Mitchell. Retired after 22 years with the Gates County Sheriff’s Department, she was the first female deputy to serve in Gates County. A member of Cool Spring Baptist Church, she had also enjoyed the fellowship of Holly Springs Baptist Church, and was a member of the North Carolina Retired Peace Officers Association.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Horace, Jr., John, Pat, and Timmy Mitchell, and John Wilkinson.

Surviving are her husband of 52 years, Johnnie Blake Parker; three daughters, Lori Hollowell and husband David, and Joy Byrum and husband Tommy, all of Eure, and Elizabeth Merricks and husband Jeff of Chapel Hill; her sister, Nancy Godwin of Ahoskie; seven grandchildren, David Lee Hollowell, Jr., Kelli Hollowell, Jeffrey Merricks, Jr. and wife Rene, Justin Merricks, Megan Norton and husband Alex, Blake Kral and husband David, and Thomas Byrum, III; and six great-grandchildren, Lydia Burnette, Gabriel Vanderpool, Allie Norton, Samuel Norton, Anezka Kral, and Ezra Kral.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, September 17 at 3:00 p.m. in Cool Spring Baptist Church and will be conducted by the Rev. Joe McKnight, and the Rev. Dr. Wayne Proctor. A private burial will follow in the family cemetery near the home. Friends may join the family at the residence.

Flowers are welcome, or contributions in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Eastern North Carolina Chapter, 3739 National Drive, Suite 110, Raleigh, NC 27612, or online at www.alz.org/nc.

Miller Funeral Home, 304 Main Street, Gatesville, is assisting the family with arrangements, and online condolences may be made to them by visiting www.millerfhc.com.