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Jasmine Thomas, daughter of Rodney and Tressie Thomas and great-granddaughter of Robenia Parker, is a sophomore business major at Southern Union College.  Jasmine plans to transfer to Auburn University in her junior year.

Ashley Parker Evans, daughter of Curtis Parker, and granddaughter of Jodie and Johnnie Mae Parker is a graduate of Florida State University.  Recently, she completed a second degree in nursing.

Janarius Thomas, son of Yolanda Thomas and great-grandson of Robenia Parker, has completed 2 years of college at Jackson State University in Alabama.  Janarius plans to complete his bachelor’s degree soon.  Let’s go Janarius!!

Andre Thomas, the great-great grandson of Jodie and Johnnie Parker, great-grandson of Robenia Parker Bass, grandson of Fannie Lois Jones, and son of Yolanda Thomas graduated on June 28, 2013 from Basic Training at the United States Navy Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois.  Congratulations Andre on your achievement and thank you for your service to our country.  We know you will complete your college education and prepare yourself to be an officer!

Martina Fame, great-granddaughter of Jodie and Johnnie Mae Parker, granddaughter of Horace Parker and daughter of Princess Parker Fame wed Jason Sedita last year.  They have a new baby boy named Giovanni.  Giovanni is bringing joy to all the Parker-Strong clan living in Rochester, New York.

Shaka Jamal Redmond, great-grandson of Jodie and Johnnie Mae Parker has a new job at Youth Uprising in Oakland, California teaching filmmaking to inner city youth.  Two of Shaka’s short documentaries premiered in New York City at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture earlier this year.  Shaka, we wish you well in your new position and we know you will make a significant difference in the lives of these young people.

Charles William Parker of Geneva, New York, the eldest living child of Jodie and Johnnie Mae Parker will celebrate his 80^th birthday this August.  His daughter, Annette Parker, is planning a big party.  If you cannot attend, please send him a birthday card to

Rodney Ted Thomas, Great grandson of Jodie and Johnnie Mae Parker, recently graduated from Auburn University at the age of 46.  Congratulations Rodney.  We are all praying that you find the job of your dreams.  Continuing education is one of the keys to a successful life.

Welcome to the Parker-Strong Web Page.  We hope you enjoy the work that has been done so far. Please join us in adding information, pictures and stories you might have collected over the years.  WE preserve our family history because it gives us and the generations to come a sense of belonging to a group of people who have triumphed over diversity.  Imagine being able to say that our great-great-grandparents were born into oppressive social and economic conditions, but because of their sacrifices, ingenuity, hard work, and vision, WE, as their descendants, are able to take advantage of amazing opportunities locally, nationally and internationally. WE own businesses.  WE have founded churches and missionary organizations.  Many of the younger generation have attended trade schools, have gone to or are currently in college.  Several of the descendants have travelled and worked internationally.