TED Parker was an entrepreneur who built a mobile home empire in the 1980s.
In January 2024, the former millionaire died in his home in Calabash, North Carolina.
Who was Lumberton legend Ted Parker?
Born on January 6, 1953, in Robeson County, North Carolina, Teddy 'Ted' Dale Parker, was a well-known businessman.
He established Ted Parker Home Sales in the 1980s and went on to profit millions off selling manufactured homes.
While his parents were tobacco farmers, Parker had always been in the real estate sector.
In 1998, his mobile home business declared bankruptcy and was sold to an affiliate of General Electric.
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It was then that he pivoted to developing land and built subdivisions in his home state.
Parker died on January 9, 2024.
According to people close to him, he had already been grappling with various health issues in the years prior to his passing.
Was Ted Parker married?
Ted Parker left behind his wife, Victoria 'Vickie' Stone Parker.
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There is little public information on her.
He is also survived by his two children, Christopher Lynn and Chandra Lee.
Their family used to own a 13,000-square-foot mansion that was famous in Lumberton, but it was later told to Chinese investors when Parker declared bankruptcy.
What have people said about Ted Parker?
Many of Ted Parker's family and friends waxed poetic about the late entrepreneur.
One of his former employees said that Parker remained humble despite his wealth.
“He was just a real person. Down to earth,” they told The Robesonian. “He came from nothing and made something, so he understood what it was to not have anything. So he was never above anybody he ever spoke to.”
Another one of his colleagues and longtime friends told the outlet that Parker was well-loved in the community.
“Everybody loved him. He had an infectious personality. He smiled and cut up all the time,” they shared.
“He was a legend. He was just the best. He was good at it. He was the hardest-working man I ever met. Day and night. All the time up until the time he died, he was that way. Even as a sick man, he worked like a dog."
You're not alone
SUICIDE is the 10th leading cause of death in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Leading Causes of Death Report from 2018.
There were "more than two and half times as many suicides" in the US than there were homicides, according to the report.
For people ages 10 and 34, suicide was the "second leading cause of death" and the fourth for individuals ages 35 to 54.
Suicide is a vital health concern in the U.S. It affects all genders, races and ages.
This is why The-Sun.com launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The campaign calls on readers to discuss their mental health issues with their family, friends and health professionals. We can all pitch in to help out others who may be suffering and help save lives.
If you are struggling to cope, you are not alone. There are many free and confidential programs in the US aimed to help those who are struggling with their mental health.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health problems, these organizations are here to provide support:
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