Geneva E Parks

Geneva E. "Geep'' Parks, 99, of Lorain, passed away on Tuesday August 26, 2025, surrounded by family. She was under the care of Mercy New Life Hospice. Geneva was born on January 10, 1926, in Kankakee, Illinois to Charles Lawrence and Francis Parker. John and Winne Carr later adopted her. She moved to Lorain in 1946.

Geneva attended Kankakee High School. In later years she received her GED. She attended The Ohio State University and University of Wisconsin for training.

Geneva was employed by the Defense Plant in Joliet, II, in the 1940's where she made bomb parts. Later in life she worked for EEOC as an outreach worker. She was very passionate about civil rights. She also worked for the Lorain City School System as a truancy officer at Admiral King High School. Later she worked for the City of Lorain. She was the first Black woman to work in the building department as a housing inspector. She later transferred to the Street department, where she was the first Black woman in the department, drove diesel trucks, ran jack hammers, plowed snow and many other jobs. She retired from the Street Department in 1993.

Geneva was one of the founding members of Cityview Council Inc. She was a member of the Negro Business and Professional Women's Club, the NAACP, and the Democratic National Party. She was also a member of The Local 6621 Steel Workers Union.

She enjoyed spending time with family, reading, traveling, puzzles, playing cards, playing games, watching John Wayne movies, Steve Harvey and sports.

Geneva is survived by her daughter, Ila Parks-Vaughn; sister Josephine Smith; nephews Calvondo Smith (Kim), and Greg Goodman (Ila); grandchildren, Monica Sherman (Kevin), Preston Curtiss (Shayla), and Lamont Hitchens (Priscilla), Laurie Atkinson, Larry Atkinson; as well as great-grandchildren: Pelekekona Burks, Kelvin Merriman, Ebony Merriman, Preston Kneeland, Brandon Smith (LaToya), LaTyra Smith Causby, Patricia Smith, Phaedra Smith, Larry Atkinson Jr, Taurean Byers, Angelique Byers, Precious Curtiss, Christopher Goodman, Sherron Hitchens, Sierra Hitchens, and Sheldon Hitchens; ten great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and special friends, Marianne Lovett and Martha Pye.

Geneva was preceded in death by: father, Charles Lawrence, and mother, Francis Parker; father and mother, John and Winnie Carr; son, Lamont “Butch” Parks-Carr; granddaughter, Dawn Barth; brothers, Issac Stem, George, Melvin, and Harold Parker; and sister, Mary Thomas.

Services will be held on Friday, September 5, 2025; wake at 10:00 AM followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM at Brown-Robinson Funeral Home, 6075 Middle Ridge Road, Lorain OH 44053. Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery.