February 6, 1945 – June 9, 2023
On Friday, June 9, 2023 at 4:10 A.M., our hearts were deeply saddened by the peaceful passing of our beloved uncle, Roy Howard Parham of 150 E. Passaic Street, Maywood, NJ. He was born to the late Norman and Obedience Friend Parham on February 6, 1945.
Roy was preceded in death by four sisters, Cordelia Parham, Mozelle P. Edmonds, Rosa Jackson, Ann Blunt and Brenda M. Parham Gibbons; and his four brothers, Willie H. Parham, Melvin Parham, Nathaniel Parham and Gilbert Lee Parham.
Roy attended Giles B. Cooke Elementary School, Henry Williams Middle School and Peabody High School. After graduating, he moved to Brooklyn, NY where his older brother Will “Boosie” lived. While in New York, he worked several jobs including his brother’s candy and convenience store.
In 1984, Roy suffered an accident that left him paralyzed. Immediately after his accident, Brenda and Roy Gibbons became his caregivers for the next 23 years. Roy became a resident at a Goldwater Rehabilitation Facility in Brooklyn, NY where the family would spend Sunday afternoons visiting, with him and the other residents. Roy was then transferred to Bergen Regional Medical Center, Paramus, NJ to be closer to his family. He was able to gain some mobility to live on his own in Maywood, NJ until his death.
Roy leaves to cherish his memories with one sister, Mildred Dodson of Petersburg, VA; children, Kindra Parham, Gerome Parham and Walter Parham all of North Carolina; four grandchildren; five great grandchildren; a dedicated niece/caregiver of 13 years, Tara Parham-Powell; two brothers-in-law, Roy Gibbons of Freeman, VA and Leon Blunt of Newark, NJ; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Services will be held 1:00 P.M., Saturday, June 17, 2023, in the Chapel of J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, the Rev. Corey Baker, eulogist. The interment to follow at Wilkerson Memorial Cemetery.
J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911, watch the funeral services live online at www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.