Secretary

As Soulsville’s first President and CEO, Ms. Parker led the nonprofit organization established to build and manage the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Stax Music Academy and The Soulsville Charter School in an area dubbed Soulsville USA.  Deanie then established the Soulsville Foundation and served as its President to fund program operations for the three entities. Much of her professional career development happened while she was a key administrative executive for Stax Records and working with such internationally famous performers as Isaac Hayes, Booker T & the MGs, Otis Redding, the Staple Singers, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Richard Pryor, The Dramatics, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King and others.

Prior to joining Soulsville Ms. Parker was the Vice-President of Communications and Marketing at Regional Medical Center at Memphis (The MED).  For nearly a decade (87-95) she served as the Assistant Director of Memphis in May International Festival and returned briefly as the Interim Director for the 1996 Festival edition saluting Brazil.

Ms. Parker is a graduate of the University of Memphis (Masters of Public Administration) and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by LeMoyne-Owen College in 2001. She received the University of Memphis University College Alumni Achievement Award in 2003, in 2004 was appointed to the Tennessee Arts Commission serving as vice chair in 2009, was bestowed the 2004 Women of Achievement award for Initiative, and in 2006 received a University of Memphis Distinguished Alumni Award and a Diversity Memphis Humanitarian of the Year Award. In 2009, she was awarded two Emmy’s for the “I Am A Man” documentary for which she was executive producer and title song composer. Ms. Parker was the 2011 Legends Award Honoree for Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis.