LANETT — Mr. Weldon Hayden Parkman, 78, of Lanett passed away on Saturday, September 15, 2018.  Mr. Parkman was born on March 7, 1940 in Greenville, Butler County, Ala., the son of Valen and Ether Mae Parkman.

On June 4, 1960, he was united in marriage to his devoted and caring wife of over 58 years, Mrs. Mary Jean Sims Parkman.

Mr. Parkman was a 1958 graduate of Greenville High School where he was a star basketball player. He received a basketball scholarship to Southern Union State Junior College where he was a two-year letterman.  Upon earning his Associate of Arts degree from Southern Union, Mr. Parkman entered Auburn University where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1964 and his Master’s Degree in Administration in 1968.

In 1964 Mr. Parkman was employed by the Lee County Board of Education as a teacher and coach for Beulah High School.  This initiated a relationship with Beulah High School and the Beulah community for Mr. and Mrs. Parkman that would span over 50 years.  Mr. Parkman’s tenure with Beulah High School began as a social studies teacher, basketball coach, and baseball coach.  For over 25 years he served in the multiple role of teacher, coach, and assistant principal at Beulah High. As a coach, Parkman led the Beulah High basketball team for over 30 years which included several trips to the state championship tournament.  In 1994 upon the completion of the new Beulah Elementary School, Mr. Parkman was named principal of the school where he served faithfully until his retirement on June 30, 2014.

The Beulah schools and Beulah community will always have a special place in the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Parkman. They will always cherish the relationships they had with the faculty, students, players, and community friends.  Coach Parkman was truly a Beulah man.

Mr. Parkman was preceded in death by his parents, Valen and Ether Mae Parkman, and his sister, Margaret Phelps. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Jean Sims Parkman, and his nephew, Ken Phelps (wife, Terry Phelps).

Flowers will be gratefully accepted or donations may be made to the Congregational Christian Church in Lanett or to Beulah schools.  The family will receive friends and loved ones at the Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home in Valley from 1 to 1:45 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, September 18, 2018.  A memorial service will immediately follow at 2 p.m. EDT at the Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home Chapel in Valley with the Rev. David Bradshaw officiating.

Please visit his Memorial Tribute page at www.johnsonbrownservicefh.com to leave a condolence for his family, share a memory of Mr. Parkman, or to light a Remembrance Candle in his memory.

Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home, Valley, is handling the arrangements.