Clevant Parks' Obituary
Clevant “Clee” Parks, 55, of Chattanooga, passed away Wednesday, October 1, 2025, in a local hospital. He was born on September 4, 1970, in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Charlie and Sarah Parks. He was educated in the Chattanooga City school system. He was a 1988 graduate of Tyner Academy. Clee was preceded in death by grandparents, Ben Bozeman and Sarah Mae Bozeman Moore, Sr., and Robert and Burdia Parks; uncles, Willie B. Hunter, Eddie Parks, and Marion Parks; aunts, Barbara Bozeman and Rozzie Carter.
Clee was offered a full scholarship to Cleveland State Community College to become a member of the tennis team. While there, his team won a two-time tennis championship. He was captain of the tennis team and Student Government President. After leaving Cleveland State, he attended Austin Peay State University, majoring in Mass Communications with a minor in Broadcasting and Advertisement. You see, Clee was a talker, and could talk the horns off a Billy goat, and in the world of retail he could sell you anything and make you think you needed what he was selling. For those who knew Clee, to say that he was a talker is an understatement.
At the age of 2 years old, he could carry on a conversation like he was 7 or 8 years old. He could talk at 2 years old but could not walk. He really did not need to, because he would sit on the couch or in his chair and call his young uncles or aunt to come and transport him wherever he wanted to go. One day while sitting on the couch with his Grandpa Rufus, he picked up a cup that Grandpa had been drinking for medicinal purposes, took a swallow, and said, “WOW!” He climbed off that couch, walked to the kitchen, and said, “Mom, Grandpa Rufus has a nasty drink, I thought it was a coke.” We all had a good laugh at that because you know it was not coke.
Clee worked in the retail business as manager of several stores in Hamilton Place Mall, but his first love was music. He formed Eclectic Acoustic Division of Clee Parks Booking, providing all things acoustic—lessons, repairs, venue scheduling, consulting, bookings, equipment rentals and more. A self-taught guitarist and drummer, he loved to perform for family and friends. Music was his life.
Clee often attended Oakwood Baptist Church. During a summer youth retreat in Bryson City, NC, he was baptized in the Nantahala River in 1986. This was a surprise to his family, but not to his childhood friend, Aaron Noll.
On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Clee departed this life at the tender age of 55 years old. Those left to cherish his memories include his son, Zachary Steele; his son’s mother, Jennifer Steele, both of Brea, CA; parents, Charlie and Sarah Parks; sister, April (Charles) Toney of Chattanooga; uncles, Robert Parks, Raymond Parks, Kenneth Parks, Jerry Parks, Rufus Moore, Jr., Bernard Moore, and Reginald Moore, all of Chattanooga; aunts, Patsy Parks, Betty Ragsdale, Mary Parks, Theresa Moore, and Bernadine Collins, all of Chattanooga, Olivia Bowens of Nashville, TN, and Rose Bozeman of Little Rock, AR; special longtime childhood friend, Aaron Noll of Chattanooga; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.
Clee will lie-in-state on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at Taylor Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 12:00 noon in the chapel with Pastor Kelvert Scruggs as the Eulogist. Burial in Greenwood Cemetery.
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