Sherrill Parks obit

Sherrill Vincent Parks

May 1, 1937 ~ June 4, 2022 (age 85) 

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Sherrill Parks Obituary

 

Oh what a joyous reunion took place in heaven Saturday evening as Sherrill ran in to his wife Virginia’s open arms and got to be held and hugged by his mom Rose again too! Then to hear God say “well done, good and faithful servant”…(Matthew 25:23)

Sherrill Vincent Parks was born May 1, 1937. He graduated from Statesville Senior High School and Davidson College. He went into the family business, Parks Realty Company, where he met and fell in love with Virginia Davidson. They were married March 10, 1963 and were blessed with 52 years together.

Sherrill served in the National Guard for 6 years: HHC 1st Bde 30th Infantry Division. His rank was Sgt 3-5, and he was honorably discharged. Sherrill was very active in his community. He was a charter member of the Statesville YMCA. He was a charter member, director, secretary and treasurer of the Kiwanis Club. He was President of the Board and Realtors, served on the Statesville Planning Board for 23 years and co-chaired Statesville Downtown Revitalization Committee. He operated radio communications in the military, at hot air balloon rallies and also for Iredell County Civil Defense RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) Auxillary Communications. Sherrill was a charter member of Forest Park Presbyterian Church. He has been an active member of Westwood Baptist Church for 22 years, where he loved being the greeter. His warm genuine welcome is the reason many came back. He loved his church family and enjoyed the music each Sunday, especially the old gospel hymns he could tap his hand to the beat.

Sherrill led an active and interesting life. He had his pilot license and used to take newspaper photographers up to take aerial photos and the sheriff up to look for liquor stills and marijuana fields. He enjoyed throwing apples and corn to deer in his yard. He loved to take pictures and used to develop them in his own darkroom. He used to jog, ride bikes, swim, play tennis and basketball, water ski, exercise at the YMCA… He rode a hot air balloon for his 50th birthday. He especially enjoyed the beach and lake. During his final days, he rallied and was able to do his favorite thing: ride his boat with family.

Family was the most important thing to Sherrill. He cherished his two daughters, Kim and Debbie and adored and was so proud of his three grandchildren, Kalib, Amanda and Bailey. He got so excited every time he got to spend time with them.

Sherrill died at his home by the lake Saturday, June 4, 2022, while listening to gospel music with his family by his side. He was 85 years old. He is preceded in death by his wife Virginia Davidson Parks, by his parents Laurie Alexander Parks, Sr and Rose Sherrill Parks and by his sister Shirley Parks Leonard. He is survived by his daughters Kim Parks Michaels and Debbie Parks Lankford, by his grandchildren Kalib Michaels, Amanda Lankford, Bailey Lankford and by his brother LA Parks, Jr.

Sherrill was a wonderful man, Dad, Papa, husband and friend who impacted many lives. He liked to cut up to make others smile. He was so friendly that all who met him came to love him, including his caregivers from Visiting Angels. As his granddaughter Amanda described him “You loved big and you were loved even bigger by everyone!”

 

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 8th from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Troutman Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be officiated by Pastor Mike Hyde at Westwood Baptist Church in Statesville Thursday, June 9th at 2:00pm with burial following at Oakwood Cemetery.

He was part of the group Cymarron, which was an American soft rock band from Memphis, Tennessee. They are most famous for their song "Rings", a number 17 hit in 1971. The recording went to No. 6 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at number 66 in Australia. "Rings" was also the first single release on Columbia's Entrance label. The band released a follow-up single, "Valerie" which was not as successful, peaking at 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 19 on the Adult Contemporary chart. An album, also called "Rings" was released which reached 187 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Cymarron was composed of Rick Yancey (December 31, 1947 – September 10, 2021), Sherrill Parks (July 21,1948 - July 24,2022),and Richard Mainegra. They named their group after Cimarron Strip - a short-lived TV western from 1967.

The band's only top 20 hit, "Rings" was written by outside songwriters Eddie Reeves and Alex Harvey, and produced by Chips Moman. Moman had earlier hired Yancey as a studio musician. Yancey wrote the flip-side of their popular single, the song "Like Children". The song "Rings" was subsequently covered by both Lobo and Reuben Howell in 1974. Lobo's version was released as a single which reached 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 8 on the Easy Listening chart. The song was also recorded in 1983 by Leo Kottke for his album, Time Step. Cymarron achieved little other success, despite releasing another album and several other singles.