James C. “Jim” Parker, a longtime Ingram Book Company employee who retired in 2002 as senior executive vice president, died of cancer on February 12 in Columbia, Tenn. He was 77.

After graduating from the University of Alabama, Parker served a stint as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army before beginning a brief career in academia. In 1974, Parker began to work for Ingram Industries in Nashville as a warehouse worker; by his retirement in 2002, he had been named a senior executive v-p at the company. Parker's work at the company included assisting in the development of books on tape and audiobooks.

Parker is survived by his wife, Carese; his children Stewart and Andrew; daughters-in-law Sara and Kristin; and others including siblings and grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Columbia, Tenn. Military honors will be provided by the United States Army Honor Guard.