Alpena Nashman Parks, 61, of Virginia Beach, Virginia passed away on November 25, 2022. He was affectionately called “Al” and/or “Pena” by family and friends.
Alpena was born on November 12, 1961, to the late James Andrew Parks and Virginia Elizabeth Parks in Reidsville, North Carolina. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1980. He went on to study Building Technology at Norfolk State University and graduated in 1986.
Alpena lived a full life. He was an avid drummer. He played for various local gospel groups and churches. He loved fixing things with his hands from working on cars to home repair projects. He eventually started his own home repair business, Sarge’s Home Repair. He joined the Air Force Reserve, where he was an Airplane Technician. He was called to active duty during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 2002. His childhood love of trucks led him to a career as a long-distance truck driver for MDV Nash Finch, where he retired on disability.
He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Williams-Parks; his two stepchildren, Alexis Martina Waters and John Paris Stevens; two bonus daughters, LaToya Murry and Nia Clark; his seven brothers, Willie Vaughan, Ernest Vaughan, Juanita Vaughan, Walter Parks, Joel Parks, Donald Lassiter and Christopher Lassiter; six sisters, Elizabeth Vaughan Douglas, Henrietta Vaughan, Juanita Vaughan, Diane Parks, Aretha Parks, Irish Parks Walden and Darlene Lassiter; and a special niece, Angel Little.
