Jodie Parker, Sr. married Lula Gibson (b. 1878) on December 16, 1896 in Macon County, Alabama at the home of the bride’s father.  Lula was the daughter of Thomas Gibson (b. 1858) and Fannie Gipson (b. 1862).  Jodie, Sr. and Lula’s Marriage Certificate filed at the county seat of Tuskegee states that they were married by the Reverend C. Young.  (See Jodie Parker, Sr. and Lula Gibson Marriage Certificate under Historical Documents)  To Jodie Parker, Sr. and Lula Gipson were born the following children:  Jimmie Lou (b. 1898); Fred (b. 1900); Clinton (b.1901); Pondi (b. 1902); Clarence (b.1903); Vertie Lee (b.1905); Jodie, Jr. (b.1907); Ruth (b. 1909); Olean (b. 1913); Oshell (b. 1911); and Bishop (b. 1923).  Jimmie Lou Parker was married to a Mr. Pugh and died at an early age leaving 6 young children who spent part of their youth in the Jodie Parker, Sr. family household.  Some of the children were reared by the Pughs.  The children were Christine, Roberta, John “Buck”, Maple, Zula, and James.

In 1919, Jodie Parker, Sr. did something that was very unusual for a Black man of his era living in the deep South.  On July 14, 1919, Jodie Parker, Sr. bought 80 acres of land from J.D. Borders and his wife Exie Borders for the price of fifteen hundred dollars.  This purchase was significant because, to my knowledge, none of Jodie, Sr.’s heirs had to sharecrop. Each child was deeded a homestead to farm or to sell.  Some of them farmed the land and some of them sold their shares to their siblings. (See 1919 Land Deed of Sale to Jodie Parker, Sr. under Historical Documents)

Jodie Parker, Jr. and Johnnie Mae Strong were married by Reverend W. J. D. Jones on March 27, 1927.  (See Jodie Parker, Jr. and Johnnie Mae Strong Marriage Certificate under Historical Documents.)  To this union were born the following children: Robenia (b. March 10, 1929); Arsenia (b. November 14, 1930); Charles (b. August 21, 1933); Allie (b. May 16, 1935); Horace (b. January 24, 1938); Mildred (b. May 6, 1940); Lessie and David (b. April 27, 1941); and Curtis (b. June 25, 1952).