Rev. Fenton (Bud) Parker was born June 16, 1939 in Avery County. He graduated from Newland High School in 1957. Upon graduation he joined the U.S. Navy where he served for four years. He was discharged in 1962, met and married Mildred Blair, a local girl.
The couple moved to Charlotte, N.C. in 1963 where he pursued a career as an Electronic Technician,the field he was trained in, and in 1968 he surrendered to the Gospel Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Parkers moved back to Avery County in June 1970 to begin Faith Baptist Church in the town of Linville, N.C. Together they had four daughters, six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. All four daughters were educated at Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C. where three met and married their husbands. The fourth married a graduate of Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, TN.
Rev. Parker was a graduate of Liberty Bible Institute in Lynchburg, VA and also has a Bachelor of Theology from Louisiana Baptist Theological Seminary.
On Dec. 31, 2007 after 37 years of pastoring Faith Baptist Church, Rev. Parker retired from the pastorate. He and his wife moved to the flatlands near Ashboro, North Carolina. On September 17. 2019 "Preacher Bud", as he was affectionately known, went home to be with the Lord. He was 80 years old.