Matthew Parker | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Matthew Blayne Parker, age 24, a resident of Greensboro, NC died Friday, August 27, 2021.

    Matthew was born July 15, 1997, in Tarboro to Robyn O'Hara Keech and the late Thurman Glenn Parker. He graduated from Tarboro High School in 2015, where he was a star soccer player and received acclaim in his senior year as conference player of the year and regional co-player of the year and received the coach's award and team MVP. He attended Edgecombe Community College and obtained certifications in both business and automotive repair. Matthew later entered turf management at Wayne Community College and continued his studies in turf management at Guilford Technical Institute. He took the knowledge gained from those years of schooling and applied it transforming what was once a mere lawn, into a work of art.

    Matthew loved Mexican food, and requested his Mama's enchiladas at every opportunity. He enjoyed spur-of-the-moment road trips, all genres of music, video games, the beach and ice-cold oysters taken right from the shell. Matthew was a generous and loving spirit and would not hesitate to give you the shirt off his back and would do so while showing off a million-dollar smile.

    Matthew is survived by his mother: Robyn O'Hara Keech and husband James Wayne Keech, Jr. of Pinetown; two brothers: Joshua Glenn Parker of Greenville, NC; Ian Warren Parker of Pinetops, NC; one sister: Renee Keech Holland of Washington, NC; grandmother: Wanda Best Gurganus and husband Dewey Lee Gurganus of Ayden, NC; grandfather: William Charles O'Hara and wife Lori O'Hara of Clifton, CO; great grandmother: Mary Alice Pierce Best of Greenville, NC; three uncles: Christopher James O'Hara and wife Sarah O'Hara; and Sean Patrick O'Hara and wife Brittny of Grand Junction, CO; a great uncle: Michael Edward Best of Greenville, NC; four aunts: Ann Parker Lane of Greenville, NC; Erica Brown Anderson and husband Brandon Anderson of Pensacola, Florida, Patricia Sanders and husband Horace Sanders of LaGrange, NC; Aunt "Strawberry" Parker Bailey of Scotland Neck, NC; cousins Jason Lane Parker and Tammy Lane, as well as a host of other cousins, nephews, and nieces.

    He was preceded in death by his father Thurman Glenn Parker; a grandfather: Warren A. "Buddy" Parker Sr.; a grandmother: Joyce Neal Parker; a great-grandfather: Winfred "Fred" Lane Best; two uncles: Warren "Bud" Parker Jr. and Kenneth Parker; and a great-aunt: Minnie Lee "Haha" Parker.

    A gathering of family and friends will be held from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm, Saturday, September 4, 2021 at Joseph B. Paul, Jr. / Washington Funeral & Cremation.

    Joseph B. Paul Jr. / Washington Funeral & Cremation is proud to serve the Parker family.