The last name Parker is easily recognized in Davie County in particular because of the well-known coach, teacher, ball player and mentor, the late Grimes “Bimmie” Parker. Now it’s time we got to know about the other half, Grimes’ wife, Fran Parker.
A Florida Girl
Fran started her new role as a Cooleemite when she was 19, but grew up in Clearwater, Florida, with her mother, Doris Logan, father, Charley Logan, and her sister, Sarah McDaniel.
Cooleemee, being such a small town, with less than one thousand residents, makes us wonder how anyone from another state finds Cooleemee as their home. Usually they say on the internet, but Fran’s story is much different.
Fran’s father was originally from Alabama, and she claimed he was so nice and smart. She and her sister got one spanking from him. After Sarah threw her father’s keys away and wouldn’t say where, younger sister Fran tried to save her from trouble by slipping off her brand-new shoes and letting water run over them in the sink. Well, her father wasn’t at all happy with her decision, so both got a slight spanking.
Fran took after her mother, who was feisty, an extrovert, and very friendly, but her father was an introvert. When her parents got married, they eloped.
Fran had accumulated the necessary credits during her senior year and obtained a part-time job at the local courthouse due to her studies in business. That clerk’s office position turned full-time when she graduated.
Love at First Sight
John Parker, Grimes’ brother, signed with the Phillies. Since the Phillies trained in Clearwater, Fran had a chance to meet him. They were dating and flew to Cooleemee, NC, to meet his parents, and Fran dragged her sister Sarah along.
When they entered the house, that was the first time Grimes and Fran met.
“I can’t explain it. When Grimes and I laid eyes on each other, I thought, ‘What am I doing?’ I just couldn’t stop looking at him; it was like something was between us; I don’t know what it was.”
Grimes’ father ordered from U-Stop-In-Grill and told “Bimmie” to go and get the food. He asked Fran if she wanted to go.
“If John Doesn’t Marry You, I Will”
Grimes talked a lot on the short drive there and, in a joking way, said to Fran, “I’m going to tell you one thing, you know what, girl, if John doesn’t marry you, I will.”
After John was assigned to Wytheville, VA, she and John fizzled out.
When Grimes found that out, he wanted Fran to come up to see him, and she did. Since Sarah and she were going to West Virginia to see a friend, they stopped by NC on the way home.
Grimes went to Florida to see Fran and took his good buddy, Donnie Everhardt, with him.
A Ballpark Proposal
Fran took three days off work, and on the third day, Grimes was headed back home. Grimes pulled into a ballpark and said, “I can’t leave without you. You’re just going to have to go with me.”
Fran, of course, didn’t want him to go back either.
“Will you marry me?” he said, and Fran said, “I sure will.”
Grimes stayed in the car while Fran went in and told her parents they were going to elope.
Her dad tried to talk her out of leaving, but Fran reminded him that he and her mother did the same thing.
“I know this is right for me; I know it is.”
He said, “OK.”
After getting her birth certificate and a few clothes, they left. What a surprise in Gaffney, SC, when they learned they had to wait 24 hours after getting the license to marry.
What do you do when you don’t have any money to stay somewhere, and you don’t want to go home?
A rest area was a perfect place to eat KFC, then they slept in the car, all three of them, Fran with her future husband and his best friend.
At 9:00 the next morning, they were married.
Grimes called his dad, and he said, “I told you, Daddy, I was going to marry that girl; I told you.”
Fran stands behind her love story: “It was love at first sight.”
Making Cooleemee Home
Cooleemee looked different from Florida. Fran lived with Grimes’ parents while he was at Appalachian all week and came home on weekends.
Grimes told her that people at the shopping center said she was kind of stuck up.
She said she didn’t know anybody.
He encouraged her to speak to everyone, and she did.
Building a Family
After Grimes graduated, Fran worked really hard to find him a job. She had three good ones, one of which had a good salary, and the house would be provided.
Grimes was very leery about having to go and do interviews with all of them, and out of the blue that night, the Principal at Cooleemee Elementary School, Mr. V.G. Prim, called. Joan King was going out on maternity leave, and he needed a replacement.
“I’ll take it,” Grimes told him.
Grimes walked to his house that night, signed the paperwork, and that was that.
Being pregnant with Alicia, Fran got a job at Erwin Mills in Cooleemee. She worked second shift in the lab, and not long after that, the mill closed.
Fran said, “I had a house that was furnished, a baby and a husband all in the same week.”
Money was tight, and with her determination, she got a job at the bank in Mocksville. She got pregnant with her son Steven after about two years, and she couldn’t stay on her feet but for so long. Part-time put her to work on Mondays and Fridays, the worst two days of the week.
The house Fran lives in now is where they moved to for a better home and larger space.
The children were dragged to every ball game because Fran wanted to see Grimes and she liked the sports.
Steven turned five years old and was ready for kindergarten, but he was so attached to his mother that he wouldn’t stay with anyone.
“You can beat me to death, Daddy, but I’m not going to stay with anybody but Mama.”
But then came along Lisa Osborne, and she went to Fran’s house to keep Steven, and the ease of separation worked. He was ready for kindergarten.
A Career and a Calling
Fran worked at Ingersoll Rand for about 8½ years. Forgetting she had applied to the school system, she got a call for an interview for the finance department.
Even though she loved her job at Ingersoll, she decided the hours would be ideal for her son who wanted to be involved in sports.
She worked for four superintendents, five finance officers, and then she retired for a total of 25 years.
Life After Retirement
Finally, after Grimes had been retired for about six years, Fran was now retired, and they could be together again.
“We had the best time together.”
Fran reflects on what her mother taught her.
“You need to work hard; when you find someone, you need to love hard, and all this time you need to be kind.”
Keeping Grimes’ Legacy Alive
Oddly enough, Fran was told by her aunt while standing at her father’s casket that her father was a very good basketball player and he loved it. Fran never knew that.
Basketball is in Fran’s blood and she plays an important role in the Grimes Parker Basketball Camp each year. There are specific roles that are consistently filled with the same volunteers each year. This is a great relief to Fran.
Fran handles all the financing, donations, and sending emails to remind parents about the camp. Being present at the camp is a constant reminder of Grimes not being there. It’s only been two years since his passing, so being in the same home where all the memories are is where she wants to be.
Fran is always thinking of ways to make the camp better, and her main concern is for the campers to learn good basketball skills, to have fun, and to keep the fee low so any child who wants to attend can come. Scholarships are also available. She hopes to get new Nike shoes for the campers again.
A Heart for Cooleemee
Fran is one of the nicest people anyone could ever meet. She has a big heart, is very sincere, and is definitely making a huge difference in the lives of those kids who come each year to the camp.
Fran is a true master of Cooleemee, and we are so happy we can call her our neighbor.
Daughter: Alicia Johnson
Son: Steven Parker, wife Dan
Grandchildren: Drue Parker, Somer Johnson, Lauren Parker Brooks (husband Greg), Bodie Parker, Owen Parker, Crosby Parker
Great-grandchildren: Parker Brooks, Blakely Brooks, Cameron Brooks