A melodious sound was heard on April 11, 1945 when a son, Lee Andrew Parks, was born to Katie Sain and the late Bish Parks in Turner, Arkansas. This son grew up in the fear and admonition of the Lord and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of fifteen. He joined in fellowship with the St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late E. R. Gaines. After his marriage to Claudine Ellington, he later joined St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church in 1991 where Rev. Ken Daniels served as pastor. During his membership, he was ordained as a deacon, was a soloist, choir member and sang with various gospel groups throughout Phillips County: The Young Believers, The Silvertones and the Poplar Grove Male Chorus to name a few. As a deacon, his voice would rang out with such moving devotional songs such as:
“Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but you are mighty;
hold me with your powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me til I want no more;
I Love the Lord, He Heard My Cries
Father I Stretch My Hand to Thee
Before This Time Another Year
Other noted songs include: When the Gates Swing Open; I Won’t Have to Cry No More; Witness (Ain’t You Glad to Be A Witness); Stand By Me; Jesus Robed In White Velvet.
Lee Andrew joined the heavenly choir on August 19, 2018. He leaves to cherish his life with fond memories, his mother, Katie Sain; five children, Frankie Ellington (Little Rock, AR); Joe Jackson (Texas); Quarkeea (Shonda) Johnson (Little Rock, AR); Shalaundra Chelle (Detrick) Carter (Jacksonville, AR); LaTravain De’Ar (Dee) Parks, Little Rock, AR; two brothers, Thomas Sain, Chicago, IL; Jerry Sain, Marvell, AR; four sisters, Annette Sain and Brenda Sain, Grand Rapids, MI; Della Sain, Marvell, AR, Irene Wilborn, Chicago, IL. He also leaves thirteen grand-children to cherish him as a loving grandfather as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
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