Gordon Pierce Parker

Brother of Mrs. Garland Smith (Joyce), Smith Funeral Home- Broadway & Moncure

Gordon Pierce Parker, age 70 of Moncure, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on Friday, March 27, 2026. He was born in Chatham County on February 19, 1956, son of the late Atlas Parker and Lola Tart Parker. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Hannah Jean Parker; sister, Linda Parker Lee; and brothers, Preston Parker, Mack Parker, Tim Parker and Kent Parker. Gordon grew up on Parker Farm on Pea Ridge Road, making memories and working hard as part of a large farming family. He was a 1974 graduate of Northwood High School, graduated in 1976 from CCTI with a degree in tool and dye and later went on to obtain his bachelor’s degree in business administration. When he began his career, he worked at Reichold Chemicals in Moncure before joining Carolina Power and Light at the Cape Fear Plant in Moncure. Through the years, Gordon was promoted from maintenance to a control operator to shift supervisor in operations. When the Cape Fear Plant closed, he was hired at Smith Energy Complex in Hamlet where he served as the operations manager, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the plant and thirty employees. On May 29, 2019, he retired from Duke Energy Progress after a career spanning thirty-eight years in the power industry. Gordon was a long-time member, Deacon and on the trustee board at New Elam Christan Church in New Hill and was a strong man of faith. He enjoyed traveling with his family, spending time at the beach, being out on the farm and enjoying all that nature had to offer. He was a loving son, husband, father, grandpa and a friend to all who knew and loved him. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Vivian Worrell Parker of the home; daughter, Julia Parker Gumpert (Ben) of Lillington, NC; grandsons, Noah Vincent Sapienza of the home, Roland Kurt Gumpert and Henry Pierce Gumpert of Lillington, NC; sisters, Hilda Parker Nelson of Sophia, NC, Joyce Parker Smith (Garland) of Broadway, NC, Sue Parker Diggs (Bobby) of New Hill, NC and Anne Parker Sears (Dennis) of Sanford, NC; also surviving is his wife’s family who loved him like their own many nieces and nephews, and his CP&L/Progress Energy/Duke Energy family who were still close after all these years. The family will receive friends on Sunday evening (3/29/2026) from 6-8pm at the Smith Funeral Home in Broadway. Funeral services will be conducted on Monday (3/30/2026) at 2:00pm at the New Elam Christian Church, 3290 Pea Ridge Road, New Hill, NC 27562 with Pastor Ed Earp and Pastor Gary Moore officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made in Gordon’s memory to the F.A.S.T. (Fellowship. And. Serving. Together) New Elam Christian Church’s FAST team is a youth group consisting of high school youth organized to serve the community with service type projects and missions. Our goal is to be the hands and feet of Jesus, serve one another while sharing God’s love and salvation to everyone. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanest us from all sin” 1John 1:7. Memorial gifts can be made payable to New Elam Christan Church, with F.A.S.T. team notated and sent to Marie Wimberly, church treasurer, 491 Buckroe Drive, Sanford, NC 27330. Online condolences can be made at www.smithfuneralhomebroadway.com Arrangements are by Smith Funeral Home, Broadway Inc.