Mrs. Mary Wanda Parks, age 88 of Ellijay, passed away on Saturday, May 18th, 2024 at home.

Mrs. Parks was born on July 7th, 1935, in Hurst, GA, to the late Wilbur Pickelsimer and Iver Crawford Pickelsimer. She worked at the Gilmer courthouse as a secretary and bookkeeper. Mrs. Parks was a homemaker, as well. Mary will be remembered for her kindness, love of family, gardening, reading, and taming all creatures that showed up on her front porch. Her bible was always open, and she loved our Lord most of all.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

Mary is survived by her husband, Robert D. Parks of Ellijay; son and daughter-in-law, Jonathan and Jennifer Jenkins of Virginia; son and daughter-in-law, Joshua Jenkins and Melissa Meadows of Colorado; sister, Ruth McVey of Cartersville, Georgia; five grandchildren, Elijah Jenkins and Lottie Jenkins of Virginia, Abigail Jenkins and Lyric Jenkins of Texas, Eleanor and Walker Thames of Alabama, and Kell Grant of Ellijay, Georgia; one great-grandchild, Jeremiah Thames. She is also survived by six stepchildren; Ruth Wolfinger, David Jenkins, and Jenny Jenkins of Maryland and Virginia, Lisa Hendericks of Nebraska, Rob D. Parks of Ellijay, and Peggy Osmanski of Iowa. Nephews, Jimmy Henry of Mineral Bluff, Georgia, Richard Henry of Brunswick, Georgia; and niece, Karen Jones of Cartersville, Georgia also survives.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, May 21st at 3:00 PM from the First Baptist Church of Ellijay with Jonathan Jenkins and Rev. Emuel Sanford officiating. A private interment will be held at the Georgia National Cemetery at a later date. Pallbearers serving the family will be Rob Parks, Elijah Jenkins, David Jenkins, Richard Henry, Billy Nichols, Benny Crawford, Don Reil, and George Winn.

Mrs. Parks will lie-in-state at the First Baptist Church of Ellijay on Tuesday, May 21st from 1:00 PM until the service hour of 3:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gilmer Pregnancy Center @ 220 Sailors Dr. Ellijay, GA 30540 in memory of Mrs. Mary Wanda Parks.

The family gives a special thanks to Kell Grant, Laura Grant, and the staff at Willowbrook Hospice for their compassionate care of Mary and Bob during her final days.

Bernhardt Funeral Home of Ellijay is in charge of arrangements.