May 18, 2024

Rev. Julia “Lu” Parks

Pinole, California

By Private submission
Rev. Julia "Lu" Parks, 82, of PInole, California, died Oct. 17, 2023.

Rev. Julia "Lu" Parks, 82, of PInole, California, died Oct. 17, 2023. (Contributed )

Julia Lucretia “Lu” Hoke Parks, 82, passed away Oct. 17, 2023, at the Absolute Care for Life in Pinole, California, after suffering a major stroke earlier in the spring.

Lu was born March 24, 1941, to Jewell Bessie Johnson and Roy Hoke in Houston, Texas. She graduated from Davis High School with honors. From there, Lu graduated from Baylor University where she also met John B. Parks. They married and adopted two children, Ashley and Jay. After John got his veterinary degrees, the family moved to California to establish their home.

John and Lu later divorced and Lu went to law school, receiving her J. D. from the University of California Davis in 1981. She practiced law for 10 years in Fresno, California, making many friends and life-long colleagues.

Another chapter in her life opened with her call to become a minister. She enrolled at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, graduated and was ordained at College Community Congregational United Church in Fresno. Her first church to serve as a minister was the Cromwell Congregational United Church of Christ in Cromwell. What a change for her! But, what a gift for that community and congregation.

Lu met and married Ken Cheers of Arispe, and enjoyed the rural, small town life and the Cromwell congregation for 10 years. A divorce ended the marriage but not the friendship. She felt called back to California to serve as interim minister and minister at several churches until her retirement.

During her retirement, Lu remained an active, intriguing and interesting person with many talents. She had a special place in her heart for dogs and cats and especially her friends, as we can all attest.

Julia Lucretia “Lu” “Lincoln” Hoke Parks is survived by her son, Jay; her sister, Barbara, both ex-husbands and friends from around the globe.

Preceding her in death were her parents; daughter, Ashley; sister, Elizabeth and brother, C.D.

A Celebration of Life will be held 11 a.m. April 20, at the First Congregational Church of Fresno, California. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Lu’s memory to The Cat House on the Kings, Parlier, California, or a charity of your choice.