Henrietta Vivian Fortune-Parker transitioned on to ancestry on Dec. 30 in Washington, D.C., at 96 years old.
Mrs. Parker was born to Peter and Adlee Fortune in Suffolk, Virginia, in 1918 during the worldwide flu pandemic and just 12 years before the Great Depression. After surviving these catastrophic events among others, Ms. Parker grew up to be an Air Force wife and a financially independent businesswoman. As a well-traveled military wife and mother of four, Vivian, as she was called by her siblings and friends, raised her family in Topeka, Kansas; Shreveport, Louisiana; Amarillo, Texas; Suffolk, Virginia; and later in Washington, D.C., where the family made their permanent station beginning in the late 1960s.
Affectionately known as “Baba” to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, she was an avid reader, traveler, and owner and operator of Parker’s Beauty Salon until her retirement in the late 1990s.
After graduating from high school in Suffolk, Mrs. Fortune-Parker completed her cosmetology studies at Apex College of Beauty Culture in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, becoming a licensed cosmetologist. A lifelong learner, Ms. Parker later continued her studies, earning a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Beauty Culture from the National Institute of Cosmetology in Washington, D.C.
Ms. Fortune lovingly became Mrs. Parker when she married Edward Henry Parker, Sr., in 1945 in Brooklyn, New York. They were joined in union as husband and wife and as business partners in several ventures for 49 years until Mr. Parker’s passing in 1994. Mr. Parker retired from the United States Air Force as an aerospace photographer and then in retirement was the owner of Parker’s Photographic Services, which won many contracts servicing the Washington, D.C., Metro system.
Mrs. Parker is survived by her son, Henry Parker, Jr,, of Washington, D.C., and her daughters, Jeanlee Huda Weeks-Parker, now of Columbus, Ohio, and Gwendolyn Parker-Harris, now of Suffolk, Virginia. She was preceded in death by her youngest child, Dorothy Parker Anderson-Williams, of Reston, Virginia, in 1999.
Mrs. Parker was also preceded in death by her siblings, former New York State Assemblyman Thomas R. Fortune of Brooklyn, N.Y., Mr. Peter Fortune of Suffolk, Mr. Langstroth Fortune of Suffolk, Mrs. Dorothy F. Banks of New Haven, Connecticut, Mr. Randolph “Stack” Fortune of Suffolk, in addition to a set of twins who passed prematurely.
Mrs. Parker is also survived in memory by her 14 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, many Fortune family members throughout the state of Virginia and nationwide, including her eldest grandchild, Vivian Weeks and Weeks’ children, Faith Sakho, Hope Sakho, and David Weeks of Louisa County, Virginia (Ferncliff: Reedy Creek), now of Henrico County, Virginia (Glen Allen).
Mrs. Henrietta Vivian Fortune-Parker led a full and wonderful life over nine and 3/4 decades, where she was always focused on mentoring and assisting family, business, and community as a member of Eastern Star Daughters of Isis, the National Council of Negro Women, the Luxurious Ladies, the National Beauty Cultist, Macedonia AME Church in Suffolk, and St. Paul’s AME Church in Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Parker’s funeral services were held on Jan. 17. She was joined in burial with her career Air Force husband at Arlington Cemetery in Arlington on Feb. 4.
As your descendants we say to you, “Baba,” that we are extremely proud of of your legacy and we will continue to pave the way for others as you have done for us.
Anyone wishing to get in touch with Mrs. Parker’s family may call (240) 475-7790.