William Raymond Parks

COLUMBIA—William R. Parks, II, Esq., 68, passed away Monday, October 24th, at his home in Columbia, SC. Bill was born May 28, 1948, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was a U.S. Army Veteran who served in Vietnam. After his Honorable Discharge from the military, Bill attended Valdosta State College in South GA, where he received his B.A. and subsequent Master's Degree in Criminal Justice. He was a Criminal Justice Professor at various universities in TX, NC, SC and WI. Bill then took a sabbatical from teaching and worked as a U.S. Postal Inspector before deciding to attend the University of SC School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor Degree in 1987. Bill, a member of Windsor United Methodist Church in Columbia, was a devoted Christian and family man who taught Sunday School. He was greatly loved by his family, as well as countless others whose lives he touched throughout the years with his love, kindness and generosity. He will be greatly missed. Bill is survived by his mother, Darlene Naylor of Myrtle Beach, SC; Fiancée, Pam Watson of Summerville, SC; brother, Thomas E. Naylor of Birmingham, AL; sister, Debbie Smoak of Myrtle Beach, SC; nephews, Michael Smolinski of Myrtle Beach, SC and Kenneth Smolinski and wife Colette Smolinski of Greenville, SC; and step-daughter, Stacey Gidcumb and spouse, Michael Gidcumb, Petty Officer First Class and two step-grandchildren, Caleb and Evangeline of FL. Funeral services will be held at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery on Friday, November 4th, 2016, at 2:00 pm. A Memorial Service will be following at 3:00 pm at Windsor United Methodist Church, 9500 Windsor Lake Blvd. Pastor Stephen D. Gaither officiating. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The American Heart Association, 190 Knox Abbott Dr. # 301, Cayce, SC 29033; The Diabetes Research Institute, 200 S. Park Road, Suite 100, Hollywood, FL 33021;The Wounded Warrior Project,P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or the charity of your choice.