Leroy W. Parker Jr.

Leroy Washington Parker Jr., son of Leroy Washington Parker Sr. and Julia (Phoenix) Parker, was born on June 22, 1944, in Philadelphia, PA. He was the first of six children and carried the mantle of Big Brother with pride and devotion for the remainder of his life. He attended Philadelphia public schools and graduated from Dobbins Technical High School in 1962. Shortly after, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving honorably for four years. Following his military service, Leroy worked for the Bell Telephone System before earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Drexel Institute of Technology in 1975. On September 6,1969, Leroy married Joyce Hall and together they had two beautiful daughters, Aisha Ain and Shani Lea. In 1976, he moved his family to Spotswood, NJ to begin his professional career with Proctor & Gamble (P&G). After 12 years with P&G he was recruited by Kraft Foods Company, in Battle Creek, MI. Leroy, Joyce and the girls, lived in Kalamazoo Michigan for 2 years before moving to Danbury, CT where they lived for 13 years. In Danbury, Leroy co-founded Concerned Black Men in Action, a program through which he mentored boys and took them to sports events. He served on the Danbury Board of Education. Chaired the Board of Directors for AMOS House, a family centric homeless shelter, was Commissioner of the Danbury Planning Board and Good Friends (Big Brother) volunteer. Leroy was very proud of his professional and community accomplishments. He enjoyed mentoring young managers in his professional life and young black men in his community. He touched countless lives passing on his personal wisdom and advice, his favorite being “Plan your Work, then Work your Plan”. In February 2002 he retired from Kraft as Director of Engineering for Northeast American Food Operations. Leroy and Joyce fled the cold northeast to Phoenix, Arizona. He loved being retired and enjoyed playing golf, tending to his tangerine trees and couldn’t wait to take everyone who came to visit on a trip to the Grand Canyon. Leroy Parker was a man of deep, quiet faith and integrity, with an abiding love for family and friends. He held strong opinions and beliefs and there was rarely a time when you did not know where he stood on any issue or event. His wife, daughters and grandchildren were the pride and sustenance of his life! Beneath his reserved exterior, Leroy had a tender heart—often moved by injustice and suffering, and always a “pushover” for his wife and daughters. Earning him the affectionate nickname of “sappy sucker” from Aisha and Shani. Leroy was both stoic and caring…often too rare a combination. He will be deeply missed but forever remembered for his legacy of unwavering love, wisdom and service. Leroy is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joyce; daughters Aisha (Alex), Shani (Jerrold); grandchildren, Brandon, Sydney and Jason; sisters, Rita and Sylvia (Charles); brother Sherman (Pricilla), nephews, Eric, Marc, Andy, Seth, Charles; nieces, Rachel and Robin and a host of cousins and close family friends. He was preceded in death by his brother Devant (June 2004) and sister Edith (October 2025).

Tributes

Leroy W. Parker Jr.

June 22, 1944 - December 30, 2025