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Photo courtesy of Rachel Ivey.
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Photo courtesy of Rachel Ivey.
Along with his singing voice, passion for public speaking and relentless positivity, people who knew David Zachary Parsons said they will remember him for his ability to love deeply and forgive quickly.
The recent Chelsea High School graduate was killed after being struck by two vehicles at the intersection of U.S. 280 and Dolly Ridge Road June 9. When the accident occurred at 9:30 p.m., Parsons was bicycling from the Hoover assisted-living facility where he worked. Police said no criminal charges are expected.
Parsons, who grew up with his grandmother and great grandmother in Mountain Brook, turned over a new leaf when he moved to Chelsea in 2014 to live at King’s Home, an organization that offers Christian-centered homes and services to youth, women, mothers and children at risk. Lew Burdette, president of King’s Home, said when Parsons arrived at King’s Home, he was doing poorly in school and wasn’t sure if he wanted to graduate.
However, Parsons adjusted quickly to his new surroundings and eventually tested out of the Special Education Program he was placed in while at Chelsea. In addition to excelling in academics, Parsons honed his talent for singing while living in Chelsea. He joined the school show choir and served as a founding member of King’s Home Broken Angel Choir. Most recently, he had been awarded a choir scholarship to attend Jefferson State Community College.
Parsons’ host parents, Scott and Kim Thomas, said Parsons was singing constantly at the top of his lungs – even when doing chores like taking out the garbage.
“I have no doubt that he is now part of the heavenly choir,” Kim Thomas said.
In addition to his love of singing, his host parents and those who knew him said Parsons had passion for serving others. One of the ways he did this was through his work with Young Adults in Transition, a panel of young adults with disabilities who make recommendations to state policymakers on improving transition services. Parsons regularly made speeches at conventions hosted by the State Department of Education-sponsored group, and he was even invited to speak at the statewide Auburn Transition Conference this spring.
Another part of Parsons’ personhood was his passion for what his host parents describe as “the least of these.” He worked with special needs youth, as well as the elderly, and he was planning to pursue a career in nursing.
“He had not lived an easy life, but he was the definition of an ‘overcomer,’” Kim Thomas said. “He had so much potential. A lot of people were excited about David’s future.”
Outside of his many accomplishments, Burdette said Parsons should be remembered for just being a great guy and follower of the Lord. He loved people and called all the other boys at King’s Home his brothers.
“He was always kind-hearted, and you could just see it in his face that he was really caring,” Burdette said. “He always had a smile, was always upbeat and was always positive. We really just loved him and will miss him dearly.”
A memorial service for Parsons was June 13 at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Cahaba heights. The family asks that donations be made to the BigTime Ministries, P.O. Box 43707, Birmingham, Ala. 35243; Mountain Brook Community Church Youth Ministries, 3001 U.S. 280 E., Birmingham, Ala. 35243; or King’s Home, 221 King’s Home Drive, Chelsea, Ala. 35043.
