Parker, Dorothy Mills 1911(?)–2005

OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for CA sketch: Born c. 1911, in Jacksonville, FL; died of pneumonia May 18, 2005, in Alexandria, VA. Journalist and author. Parker was highly active in Washington, DC, area churches and was well known as the Washington correspondent for the national weekly magazine Living Church. After attending Florida State University, she moved to Washington, DC, where she became active in community work. She eventually got involved in publicity work as the parish and press secretary for St. Columba's Episcopal Church from 1959 to 1970. In 1960 she started writing for the Episcopal magazine Living Church, a correspondent job she continued in until 1995; she also contributed to American Church News as a correspondent from 1958 until 1970. From 1970 until 1981, Parker was academic secretary to the dean of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. A member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, as well as of the National Society of Colonial Dames, the Junior League of Washington, and the Stratford board, she also sang for the Cathedral Choral Society for over four decades. Parker was the author of The Prayer Book Issue (1978) and In Praise of Music (1982); in addition, she garnered critical praise for editing Lee Chronicle: Studies of the Early Generation of the Lees in Virginia (1957). In 1992 she received an honorary doctorate from Nashotah House Episcopal Seminary for her contributions to the church.

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Florida Times Union, May 25, 2005, p. B3.

Washington Post, May 24, 2005, p. B6.