Gerald Helmick Parks Jr.

Gerry is survived by his husband Jon Middleton; his sisters and brothers-in-law Dana Gray of Staunton, VA, Cathy and David Loevner of Wilson, WY, and Anne and Craig Watkins of Charlottesville, VA; brothers- and sister-in-law Bill Middleton of Chestnut Hill, PA and Joe and Lee Ann Middleton of Charlotte; eleven nieces and nephews; cousins; many friends; and his loyal dog Sebastian.

Gerry was born March 5, 1955 in Elkins, WV to Gerald Helmick Parks Sr. and Ruth Coffman Parks. The third of four children and the only boy, he was lovingly referred to as “The King” by his doting sisters. He was raised in Davis and St. Mary’s, WV and later Lynchburg and Amherst, VA and graduated from Amherst County High School. He was a proud graduate of the University of Tennessee (Go Vols!), where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) fraternity and earned a degree in business administration.

For 32 years, Gerry worked for Martin’s Herend Imports of Sterling, VA. He loved his job and the people he worked for and with. He was a successful regional sales manager whose territory consisted of the Carolinas, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Despite covering a large geography, he was genuinely interested in his many customers. He knew them and their families and was present at joyful and sad events in their lives. He was more than a sales rep, and they were more than customers; they were friends, and Gerry cherished and was cherished by them.

Gerry’s great-grandfather was one of the founders of Miners & Merchants Bank in Thomas, WV, where Gerry served as a director from 2012 until December 2024, resigning only because of his illness. His family’s historical connection to the bank meant a great deal to him, and he was very proud of his work on the board.

Jon and Gerry spent 28 years together enjoying a life filled with love, travel, parties, volunteer work, family, friends, dogs, and fun. Gerry was thoughtful, kind, generous, funny, loving, good-hearted, and so genuinely filled with joy that you felt joyful just being with him. It is no exaggeration to say he was dearly loved by everyone in his life. We will never know another like him, and we will miss him always.

A private interment service for family will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte.

Gerry’s family is deeply grateful to his caregivers on 2 South Healthcare at The Sharon for their devotion not only to Gerry but also to his family and friends.

If you would like to honor Gerry, please consider a donation to one of the following organizations: Crisis Assistance Ministry [crisisassistance.org], Via Health Partners (formerly Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region) [viagiving.org/donating], St. Peter’s Episcopal Church [st-peters.org], The Sharon at SouthPark [thesharon.org/giving], or The Glioblastoma Foundation [glioblastomafoundation.org].