friend of
the river I never knew Parker Waller, but his life still ripples
BY TERI R. WILLIAMS
across the hearts of those who did. Dedicating a
day to clean a section of the Ohoopee River, one
of many rivers in the area he loved to canoe, is the
best tribute his friends could offer in his memory.
The first Parker Waller Ohoopee River Clean-Up Day
coincided with Earth Day, April 20, 2018, the year of
his passing. The following year, the group gathered on June
22, 2019 for what has now become an annual event.
There were several themes this article could have
followed from environmental responsibility to our need
for connection with nature. But as I sifted through
conversations with Parker’s friends and fellow river lovers,
I decided that the best way to talk about Parker and the
day set aside in his honor was through their memories. For
the rest of us, I’ll begin with a little history gathered from
Parker’s wife Judy and four longtime friends, Karl Owens,
Mark Miller, Mark Dorsey, and Kirk Little.
HOMETOWN L I V ING AT ITS BEST 111
Parker Waller was a true custodian of
Georgia rivers and waterways. Now his
friends celebrate his life through an
annual clean-up day along the Altamaha.