Frankie Parker was born in Stockton, California of Janie and Frank Parker. He was one of eight children. He was proceeded in death by his sister, Kathleen Robbins and his brother, Richard Parker. Parker's other siblings are sisters, Sally Kelly of Austin, Texas, Jean Woodall of Sweeney, Texas; and Sharon Bottorff of Fort Smith, Arkansas. His brothers are Bobby Parker of Oboca, Arkansas and Leslie Parker of Paige, Texas. Frankie Parker grew up in Texas, was in Korea as a member of The United States Army from 1972 until 1977, and became a refrigeration mechanic while living in West Palm Beach, Florida. He had two sons, William Frank Parker III, of Kissimmee, Florida, and Bobby Parker of Spring Branch, Texas.
Frankie committed the utmost act of violence. He murdered two people and wounded two others. He was convicted and sentenced to death. He lived twelve years on Tucker Prison's Death Row. His story of those years is one of transformation and a message of hope for all who had the opportunity to know him.
His first four years in prison were filled with rage, guilt and remorse. One day, when he was again thrown into the `hole', he requested the Bible, the only book allowed. Instead, an angry guard threw him a copy of The Dhammapada (a text of Buddhist teachings). He said later that that book saved his life and began his journey of Buddhist study as well as an appreciation of all the world's religions and philosophies. He became a true scholar and seeker with an insatiable hunger for the understanding of human nature and human suffering. This all began that day when he came across a Sutra offering the teaching that one's life is the result of one's own thoughts and that actions and then consequences follow. Considering this, he awakened to a new awareness: perhaps the enormous pain he was feeling was due to his angry thoughts and actions rather than all `those others'. He began to meditate and to explore his psychological dynamics. Buddhism became a vehicle for him to quiet himself enough to deeply feel a true compassion arise for the suffering of others.
Little by little, he put these beliefs into practice as he interacted with his friends on death row. In 1994, the Ecumenical Buddhist Society met Frankie and found a Bodhissatva, one dedicated to the liberation of all suffering beings from the pain of existence. He had thought for years that he was the only Buddhist in the state until he read of EBS. He was eagerly welcomed into the congregation in which he became greatly loved. He adopted this community and gave enormous energy and love back, more than he received. He always gave gifts of his origami and calligraphy, contemplative arts which he did with eloquent skill. He also wrote letters of his daily life and thoughts which were teachings in themselves. A visit to Frankie was always enriching. He lived and died as an expression of his deeply held belief in the dharma teachings of Buddhism as well as the highest ideals of all religious traditions.
As Frankie's execution date approached, Buddhist's of all traditions as well as sympathetic friends of all religions united in appeals first to Governor Tucker and then to Governor Huckabee to spare his life and to commute his sentence to life in prison without parole. Frankie's dream was to dedicate his life to beginning the first prison sangha. That dream never came to fruition. He was executed on August 8, 1996 and died at 9:04 P.M.. Prayers were being said for him all over the world by religious communities of all faiths and renowned Buddhist teachers.
JuSan Fudo SiFu Frankie Parker has left this human form and lives on as pure wisdom expression of his deepest essence. He lives still in the hearts of his family; his friends on death row; his Christian friends: his heart teacher, Lama Tharchin Rinpoche; his spiritual brother, Kobutsu Malone; his lawyer, Jeff Rozensweig; and his second family of friends including Lucy Sauer, Hannah Remmel, Sandi Formica, Jean Crume, George Crook, Mike Crook, Stewart Irving, Judith Elane, Ellis Widner, Jim Rule, Mary Peters, Becky Kilmer, Liz Potter and Anna Cox; The Ecumenical Buddhist Society, and all of his friends and dharma brothers and sisters around the world.
Memorials may be made to The Arkansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty; The Engaged Zen Foundation, 34A Prospect St., Ramsey, N.J. 07446; or The Ecumenical Buddhist Society's JuSan Prison Education Program, Gans Place Carriage House, 1010 W. 3rd St., Little Rock, AR. 72201.