Uncrowned Community Builders

Placid Jean Parker was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where she completed her elementary and secondary education. In 1946, she earned a Diploma in Nursing from the Provident Hospital School of Nursing, located in Baltimore, Maryland. The following year, she moved to Buffalo, New York to take a position at Millard Fillmore Hospital. Mrs. Parker was a pioneer in Buffalo's health care community and was one of the first Black nurses to work at Millard Fillmore Hospital.

In 1956, Mrs. Parker joined the staff of Children's Hospital, where she was appointed as the Nursing Supervisor of the Employee's Health Office. In 1971, she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from D'Youville College.

Subsequently, she worked for the Board of Education as the first Director of Nursing at the Fulton Street Academy. During the 1970s she was a clinical instructor and Coordinator for adult health nursing at Buffalo General Hospital School of Nursing and was in that position for more than eight years. She also founded a nursing scholarship program at Buffalo General. Later in her career, she was appointed the Director of Nursing at Sheehan Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Parker was a founder of the Practical and Registered Nursing Association.

Mrs. Parker had many interests and talents. She was an organist for the Otterbein United Methodist Church and also served as a member of the church's Board of Trustees. She was also an accomplished writer who authored several articles covering a wide range of topics including a booklet to assist in the preparation of children for hospitalization. Her paper, "The History of St. Augustine Center" can be found in the archives of The Episcopal Diocese of Western New York. She also wrote
Her many honors include the Sojourner Truth Award for outstanding community service from the Buffalo Chapter of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, as well as numerous scholastic and achievement awards from the Practical and Registered Nurses Association and the D'Youville College Alumnae Association. She was also cited in an article entitled "Middle Class Blacks" that appeared in the 1973 special edition of Ebony Magazine. In 1992, Mrs. Parker was appointed to serve on the state mental health commission by former Governor Mario Cuomo. She served on the commission until 1995. She was an active member of the Central Park United Methodist Church and served as a trustee and served on the standing committee for archives and history in Western New York. Mrs. Parker departed this life on July 2, 1996, and is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery.