[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18867]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING SHERIFF OLIVER PARKER, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 11, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an 
extraordinary community leader, Sheriff Oliver Parker, Jr.
  Sheriff Oliver Parker, Jr.'s life began in Duncan, MS. Sheriff 
Parker's mother, Mrs. Eddie Mae Parker, relocated to Hinchcliff, MS 
when he was 10 years old. Sheriff Parker has resided in Quitman County 
for over 50 years. He is a graduate of Quitman County High School, 
Northwest Junior College, and the Mississippi Law Enforcement Training 
Academy. Parker completed the Mississippi Fire Investigation Training 
Academy as a requirement to become an Arson Investigator. He has one 
daughter, Fatina Parker Elliott; one granddaughter, Ashley-Faith 
Elliott; and one god-daughter, Detra Foster-Webb.
  Sheriff Parker has never been a stranger to hard work. He worked 
assiduously as a teenager to help his single mother provide for his 
siblings. He has always had a desire to help others. He knew at an 
early age that he wanted to make a difference in the lives of the 
citizens of Quitman County. He pursued his dreams of helping the 
citizens of Quitman County by beginning a career in law enforcement. He 
served in the capacity of Deputy Sheriff for the Quitman County 
Sheriff's Department for 23 years. In 1999 he pursued his life-long 
dream of becoming the Sheriff of Quitman County. He was elected the 
first African-American Sheriff of Quitman County in November of 1999 
and took the Oath of Office on December 9, 1999. He began his 
responsibilities as Sheriff of Quitman County on January 1, 2000. He 
has humbly served as Sheriff of Quitman County for 14 years.
  Since the beginning of his career as Sheriff of Quitman County, 
Sheriff Parker has instituted change in a variety of ways and made 
major contributions to the Quitman County Sheriff's Department. Jailed 
youth are offered a variety of programs designed to help them avoid 
returning to jail, as well as GED tutoring and testing. The elderly are 
assisted via the TRIAD Program. Sheriff Parker also initiated the 
employment of a full-time School Resource Officer at Madison Shannon 
Palmer High School. Under Sheriff Parker's leadership, a full-time 
detective and additional deputies and dispatchers were hired to assist 
with protecting and serving the citizens of Quitman County. Sheriff 
Parker's leadership has proven to be successful, as there were no 
unsolved murders in Quitman County until February 8, 2013.
  Sheriff Parker was present at a major milestone in the history of 
Quitman County which was the unveiling of the Mule Train sign at the 
city limits of Marks, Mississippi.
  Sheriff Parker possesses sound judgment; he has a great sense of 
accountability to the citizens of Quitman County; and he has an 
irreproachable professionalism. Sheriff Parker constantly seeks to 
establish relationships with the community that ensures continued trust 
and dependability. He is a God-fearing individual who seeks to serve 
the citizens of Quitman County with the utmost respect, dignity and 
honesty.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Sheriff 
Oliver Parker, Jr. for his dedication in being a respected community 
leader.

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