Rickey Parkey

Mr. Rickey Parkey, 67, was born on November 7, 1956 in Morristown, TN and departed this life peacefully on April 7, 2024 at Morristown Heritage Center surrounded by family after a short bout with lung cancer. Our heartfelt thanks to the Morristown Heritage Staff and Smokey Mountain Hospice.

Rickey was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ike & Flora Kyle and Ed & Ethel Parkey, his parents A.R. & Gladys Parkey, sisters Dorothy Parkey-Fortson and Diane Dyer and brother Charlie Kyle.  

He is survived by his spouse Tammy, he leaves to cherish his memory, son Toby Senter, daughters Anetria (Tracy) Burriss and Christy, sisters Flora (Rodney) Houston and Susie (Michael) Washington. Rickey also leaves 6 grandchildren and one great granddaughter and ahost of nieces and nephews and relatives.

Rickey always had a thing for fast cars and motorcycles stunts.  He had no fear of man or things of this world. He was a charmer and had a brave heart that led him often time to trouble.  He was unstoppable in his own mind. He always had fun and made light of every circumstance that he was in. He loved his family and his family loved him unconditionally. He held several recognition awards for community support and youth camps for kids in Ohio and New Jersey. He was inducted into the AHERN African American Hall of Legacy for boxing in Morristown. He loved the sport of boxing, it showed up when he was an amateur boxer, then he decided he could go a step further and turn to Professional Boxing.  “Slick Rick” as he preferred to be called, instead of “The Hammer” some chose to call him. During his professional career, he held three World Championship Belts, one including the IBF Cruiserweight Title. At one time he also owned the rights to the fastest knockout in the world of boxing history with that 8-second K.O.that put him in the Guinness Book of World Records.  No matter how the story ended, he will always be our Champ! Oh wait, the story only got better, because the greatest thing he ever did was give his life to Jesus and got his name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  The cancer hehad to endure the last 9 weeks of his life became his victory in Jesus.  PHILIPPIANS 3:14 says: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  His fearless heart can’t lose when his eyes are on the prize of the Kingdom. That’s exactly what Rickey did in the end. HE FOUGHT AND WON THE GREATEST PRIZE OF ALL.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. -1:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Dockery-Senter Funeral Home with a celebration of life to follow at 1:00 p.m. -2:30p.m. with Pastor Michael Washington, Pastor Jeff Wells, Pastor Kenny Mattison and Minister Alex McLain.

Interment will follow immediately after service at Bent Creek Cemetery, Whitesburg, TN.