My first acquaintance with Murray Chapel Church of God in Christ in Decatur was when I was teaching Biblical History at Newton County High School. There were some students in those classes that impressed me with their Bible knowledge and Christian behavior. Recently I felt that I should find someone to feature from that church membership.
While at the bank several days ago, I met a gentleman who carried himself like a minister. When I asked, he replied that he was a Sunday School superintendent at Murray Chapel. Soon after, I visited with Mr. Robert Parker and his wife Johnny Mae Bufkin Parker of Decatur. The Parkers have been married 63 years.
Born in Forest to James Parker and Eunice Kimble Parker of Jackson, January 26, 1940, Robert Earl Parker was one of five boys and four girls. When he was about two, his father moved to the Delta, when he was given land by Robert’s grandfather on which to raise cotton. He told me, “Grandpa was a big farmer from Scott County. He rented 200 acres of land from Senator Eastland.” He then gave each of his sons-in-law land there. Robert remembers playing with Senator Eastland’s children.
When he was about six, the Parkers moved back to Decatur, where Robert attended Boler Elementary before moving on up to Decatur High School, where he played football then graduated in 1957. Back in the ‘50s, Decatur High School was situated where the alternative school is now and was attended by only blacks, whereas the whites went to school across from the college.
We discussed the turmoil in America at present, and agreed on some things. He declared, “Lack of knowledge caused the racist problems.” We spoke of how we believe that white and black Christians should associate with each other, in the interest of peace and safety. About all the disasters that hit our country constantly, he said, “”God’s trying to get people’s attention. Get so hardhearted and stiffnecked. They think they’re on their own. Nobody’s on their own. God’s always in control.”
Ms. Johnny, born in 1940, attended a school located on Highway 503, close to Little Rock Baptist Church, which she attended back then. She used to walk through the woods to get to the church. She said she got to the 11th grade. The couple met when she was in the seventh grade and he was in the eighth. After he graduated, they married September 23, 1958. He began working in Meridian at Krohler Furniture Company, where he continued for about ten years.
They then moved to Chicago, where some of the family had moved, and lived there about eighteen years. They attended the Baptist church there. Mr. Parker drove trucks about seventeen years, before moving back to Decatur. When I mentioned the violence in Chicago, he declared that was why they came back, saying, “I got my children out of the city because it was getting so bad.”
Coming back to Decatur, he got on at La-Z-Boy, working the night shift there for fourteen years, before working days for two years. He also had a lawn business on the side. When he retired from La-Z-Boy, he began driving a school bus, which he did for seventeen years.
There were seven children, beginning with Johnnie Bramlett Parker, who passed away in 2008. Born February 20, 1958, she died at fifty of a brain aneurysm. The Parkers gained five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren from their daughter Johnnie. Charles, born in 1961, is an English teacher in California. Eddie Ray Parker, born in 1962, lives in Minnesota and works at a medical tools plant. He is married and has given the elder Parkers four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Their son Calvin, born in 1963, lives in Lawrence, and has two children. Unfortunately, he has become disabled. Gary is the Parkers’ fifth child, born in 1965. He has two children, four grandchildren, and works at a restaurant in Hattiesburg.
The second daughter is Lesia McSwain, who was born in 1967. Lesia lives in Decatur, works at Planters Credit Union in Newton, and has two children and one grandchild. The Parkers’ seventh child, a son, is Carice, who was born March 23, 1975. His grandmother, Mrs. Johnny’s mother Ms. Lizzie Gardner Bufkin, died on his birthday in 1996. Carice, is married and works at the sawmill in Newton.
Brother Parker, as I call him, spoke of the years when he and Ms. Johnny were growing up. “Them was some lovely days. You didn’t need no lock on the door. People cared for each other and shared. You slept with your windows up and didn’t have a telephone.” He told of how his parents brought him up, saying, “They put the fear of the Lord in your heart when you were coming up. You acknowledged God in all you did. They didn’t smoke or drink. They shared with each other, worked and went to church. There wasn’t much else to do.”
Murray Chapel was not the first church built on the property there, sitting right off Turkey Creek Road. Elder J.R. Bealt from Hattiesburg, possibly back in the forty’s, had the church built in front of where Murray Chapel sits now. After Elder Bealt died, Elder George Murray had become pastor and had the church built. He had the help of other pastors and members, and the church was built in 1980.
He recalled of a time when he was about “30 something, still attending church,” there was a revival. “He was praying and worshipping God with me. I wasn’t really a bad person. Always tried to help people. Never been to jail. My main thing was treating everybody right and respected all elders.” He continued, “I felt I needed to get more closer to God. I asked for forgiveness for whatever sin I had committed, and I’ve been going forward ever since.”
Ms. Johnny used to usher at Murray Chapel. Since she lost her eyesight about eight years ago, from glaucoma, she only goes there occasionally, as she attends Russell Temple Church of God in Christ in Hickory with her daughter Lesia, who helps her get around. As I said, Brother Parker is SS Superintendent at Murray Chapel, and he also is on the Trustee Board. He stated, “I support the church and take care of the finances.”
Elder George Murray died a couple years ago, and his son, Elder LaRonald Murray, became the pastor of Murray Chapel in Decatur. Just lately, the last of November, Ms. Mary Buckley, Secretary of the church, passed away. I wrote about her daughter Virgie Thames for this column some time ago.
Brother Parker gave me a good conclusion for this article. He proclaimed, “He’s an awesome God! He have blessed us all through the years of our life and continually blesses us.” I thank God for all His children in Decatur!
Live for Jesus! He’s coming soon!
You may contact me at lagnesrussell@gmail.com or 601-635-3282.
