Obituary

Ouida Parker Dykes

March 23, 1936 - November 21, 2024

Ouida Fay Parker Dykes, age 88 and of Kentwood, Louisiana, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, November 21, 2024. She was born on March 23, 1936 to Rev. H.C. and Eunice Parker in Crosby, Mississippi.

Ouida moved to the East Fork community as a teenager when her father was called to pastor East Fork Baptist Church. She often shared her memory of sitting on the porch of the parsonage and telling her sister, “yall can stay here if you want to, but I’m not!” Turns out, she never left. She graduated from Spring Creek High School. Ouida met Charles N. Dykes Sr. when he returned from his military service in Germany, and (by his recollection) promptly declared “I am going to marry him”. They were married and built a little yellow brick house in East Fork - just next to the church that she had planned to leave as soon as she was able. Together, they had three children, eight grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Ouida was the school secretary (also, nurse, teacher’s therapist, sippy stand money counter, substitute teacher scheduler, and many other roles) at Spring Creek Elementary for 30 years. She was known for her kind and caring spirit – she took care of people. She took care of her family as well. She cooked countless meals in the kitchen of the little yellow brick house – with only a couple of minor fires. She fed Charles, her children, her siblings, lots of pastors and their families, and the grandchildren. Mawmaw Ouida was known for “rolling out” a pan of biscuits, spooning the bacon grease on top of the fried eggs, chicken fried steak, chicken and dumplings, roast with rice and gravy, crawfish etouffee, and ALL the cakes and pies. She loved the Lord, and it was evident by the way she loved people – a life well lived.

The visitation will be 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Sunday, November 24, 2024 at East Fork Baptist Church, Kentwood. Visitation will continue at the church on Monday, November 25, 2024, 9:00 a.m. until funeral service at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Jay Avance officiating. The burial will be at East Fork Cemetery.

She is proceeded in death by her husband of 57 years, Charles N. Dykes Sr.; parents Rev. H.C. and Eunice Knight Parker, and stepmother Ruby Parker; sisters, Doris Cabler, Eloise Lambert, Betty Bankston; brothers, H.C. Parker Jr., Harold Parker, and Charles Parker.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her children Charlotte Alford (Tim), Mindy Klinger (Michael), Charles N. Dykes Jr. (Rachel); grandchildren Jesse Alford (Molly), Jeremy Alford (Whitney), Carrie Dunn (Joe), Kyle King (Nikki), Kady King, Caleb Dykes (Jordan), Nicholas Dykes (Kristie), Ethan Dykes; 14 great grandchildren; sister, Patricia Rushing; and loving caregivers, Carolyn Romero, and Barbara Brown.

Pallbearers will be Jesse Alford, Jeremy Alford, Kyle King, Caleb Dykes, Nicholas Dykes, Ethan