Obituary of SFC Steven Wayne Parker

SFC Steven Wayne Parker, 44, of Lugoff, SC, husband of Melanie Gunter Parker, passed away on Saturday, August 1, 2020. He was born on October 4, 1975 in Columbia, SC to Paul Francis and Sandra Kay Blizzard Parker. SFC Parker proudly served 20 years in the SCARNG.

He was a 1994 graduate of Chapin High School, where he was an All-American football player and wrestler, and also a graduate of Limestone College. SFC Parker's deployments included:

Deployment to Iraq
Campaign Name: Iraqi Sovereignty & New Dawn
06 April 2009 - 15 February 2010

Deployment to Kuwait
24 November 2013 - 12 August 2014

NG Honorable service from 14 December 1999 - 01 August 2020

Awards bestowed upon SFC Parker include:

Meritorious Service Medal
Army Commendation Medal (2)
Army Achievement Medal (8)
Army Good Conduct Medal (2)
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (5)
National Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Noncommissioned Officers Profesional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (2)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal W/M device
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal Campaign Star
SC Active State Service Medal (20 years Gold)
SC Palmetto Service Ribbon
SC Mobilization Ribbon (2)
FL Active Duty Ribbon

In addition to his parents and wife of 20 years, Steven is survived by three children, Sammantha Hodge (Steven), Kerrigann Parker and Everette Parker; one brother Christian McCoy-Parker (Jim McCoy-Parker), one sister Shannon Parker-Watts (Michael), two grandchildren, Zachary and Jacob Hodge, one nephew Parker Watts, one niece Ryleigh Watts.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 8, 2020 at 4:00pm in the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington. The family will receive friends from 2:00-3:45pm prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made in Steven's name to the American Cancer Society.