Mr. Andrew "Dr. Chris Banks" Parker

Andrew Parker AKA “Dr. Chris Banks” was born Sunday, June 9, 1946 in Marion, Alabama and passed on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at the Nashville VA Medical Center located at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 75 years. Andrew was the first child born to Leola Parker. Leola was married in July of 1950 to Floyd “Sonny” Moore and Floyd gave Andrew the nickname “Sonny Boy”. Leola and Floyd had three children; Andrew, Sandra and Thurman. Andrew lived with, and was raised by his Aunt Ruby Warren Kynard. Ruby and Clarence Warren had eight children; Dorothy, Clarence, Debra, Brenda, Freddie, Roy, Theodore and Dwayne. Andrew, the oldest, served as the big brother/cousin. Andrew was a very gifted, bright and intelligent student coming up through school. He graduated with honors in 1964 from J S Abrams High School in Bessemer, Alabama. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1965 and served until 1967. He was honorably discharged. Andrew was a recipient of the National Defense Service Medal. After serving in the military he relocated to Saginaw, MI in 1967 at the advice of his uncle, Theodore Parker. He moved in with his Uncle Ted in search of employment which he obtained very quickly at Eaton Corporation where he worked in various roles from production to leadership. He worked for Eaton Corporation for over 33 years until his retirement in June of 2000. Andrew was also a gifted broadcaster and started at W3 Soul with friend and co-founder Don Wiggins in October of 1969. Andrew was in search of an “alias” radio personality name, and he always liked the first name Chris. He needed a last name and at the time he was inspired by the Second National Bank. He thought to himself,” Banks would be a great last name”. That’s where the legend of Dr. Chris Banks was born. Andrew Parker aka “Dr. Chris Banks was the voice of Gospel Music for the Tri-Cities area for many years, he was amongst the elite of Gospel Music Radio personalities. He served as gospel Music Director for the radio station and continued in that role. In 1988, his friend and coworker Don Wiggins purchased the radio station W3 Soul and changed the name to the legendary WTLZ. Dr. Banks was also very involved in the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA). He served as a member of the Announcers Guild for the GMWA. He was also a member of the GMWA Saginaw Chapter and most recently a member of the Flint GMWA Chapter. Dr. Banks, Vickie Hill, Jerome Brummell and Maria Townsend also co-founded a company called, Glorify Entertainment; the goal was to book, prepare, and groom artists to be successful in the gospel music industry. Dr. Chris Banks was truly the Golden Voice of gospel music and an iconic figure in the Saginaw area for over 30 years. His legacy and impact will live on for generations to come. Andrew “Dr. Chris Banks” Parker was a man of faith who encouraged many people throughout the years. You could always count on him to play the perfect song or say the perfect words to get you through that tough moment. He was the voice that we listened to on our way to worship, the voice of encouragement and Saginaw’s Golden Voice of gospel music. Dr. Chris Banks will live in our hearts forever! Andrew Parker was a man known by many names. In Alabama they knew him as “Sonny Boy”; at Eaton Corporation they knew him as “Andy Parker”; the Gospel Music Industry knew him as, “Dr. Chris Banks”; but the titles he cherished the most were father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend and man of God! Andrew married Audrey Y. Aldridge in 1975 and they have three children, Eugenia, Christopher and Samuel. Andrew also had seven grandchildren, Yolanda, Hezekiah, Paris, Hannah, Christopher, Autumn and Deanna; and one great-grandchild, Tayden. Andrew was a devoted and loving father and grandfather. He loved taking annual trips to Birmingham, Alabama to visit his family. In his retirement years he enjoyed picking up and spending time with his grandchildren. Andrew was an avid lover of nice cars and he loved to keep them shining. You could always catch him hand washing his car every week. He was a very organized and meticulous person who kept nothing out of order! Andrew was preceded in death by his mother, Leola Moore; father, Floyd Moore; brother, Thurman Moore; special aunt, Ruby Warren Kynard; cousins, Clarence Warren, Jr. and Dwayne Warren. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Audrey Parker; daughter, Eugenia (Ontay) Johnson; sons, Christopher (Jolene) Parker and Samuel (Chalonda) Parker; grandchildren, Yolanda Johnson, Hezekiah Johnson, Paris Parker, Hannah Johnson; Christopher Parker, Autumn Parker, Deanna Parker; great-grandson, Tayden Christopher; sister, Sandra Moore; special cousins, Dorothy Taylor, Debra Pack, Brenda Latham, Freddie, Roy and Theodore Warren; niece, Ashley Moore; nephew, Ian Moore. In November of 2018 Andrew relocated to the Tennessee State Veterans Home in Clarksville, TN. He was transferred to the Nashville VA Medical Center located at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, TN on June 2, 2021 where he was hospitalized until his unfortunate passing on Saturday, June 19, 2021. The family of Andrew Parker would like to thank all of the doctors, nurses and medical staff at the Nashville VA Medical Center who provided wonderful care to him until his passing! The family of Mr. Parker, “Dr. Chris Banks” extends special thanks to Terrell Broady Funeral Home, Nashville Tennessee and the Evans & Browne’s Funeral Home of Saginaw. Family hour will take place at 10:00 A.M. with the funeral service commencing at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, June 26, 2021 at Evans & Browne's Funeral Home, 441 N. Jefferson Ave., Saginaw, Michigan 48607. Interment will take place in Great Lakes National Cemetery, G-4200 Belford Rd., Holly, MI 48442. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.

Mr. Andrew "Dr. Chris Banks" Parker

June 9, 1946 - June 19, 2021