Rutha Lee Raines Parker Mrs. Rutha Mae Raines Parker, 89, went to be with the Lord on Friday, May 2, 2008, in Tallahassee, Fla. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. EDT Friday, May 9, at New St. John AME Church, 2005 Holton St., Tallahassee. Viewing will be from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at New St. John. Tillman Funeral Home of Monticello (850-997-5553) is handling local arrangements.Funeral services in Alexandria, Va., will be at a later date next week at Allyene AME Zion Church, with burial at Ivy Hill Cemetery. Greene Funeral Home (803-549-0089) will be in charge. A native of Quitman, Ga., Mrs. Parker was the daughter of the now-late Samuel and Mary Folson Raines. A devout Christian, Mrs. Parker gave her life to Christ early in life and joined St. Phillips AME Church in Quitman.Later, she became a member of several different churches as she made her home in Tallahassee and Alexandria. She loved working with youth and it was not unusual on Sunday mornings for her to round up all the neighborhood children and take them to church, often having to make several trips or hiring a taxi.In Alexandria, Mrs. Parker was an active member of Allyene AME Zion Church, where she served in many capacities. Upon returning to Tallahassee, she continued her ministry at New St. John AME Church. Rutha was a community activist and worked hard to improve conditions in each neighborhood in which she lived. She was an LPN; however, she would quickly tell you that she was "LPRN" - licensed practical registered nurse - a professional distinction of which she was very proud.She will be forever cherished as a great mother for she worked hard to care and provide for her children. Mrs. Parker, who was the fifth of eight children, is survived by two siblings, Minnie T. Humphrey of Quitman and Dorothy R. Parker of Tallahassee; her daughter, Brenda Pegues of Oxon Hill, Md.,; son, Samuel R. Parker (Carol); two grandchildren, Patrice and Samuel A. Parker, all of Alexandria, Va.; and a stepdaughter, Leona Gordon of Tallahassee; followed by a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.