Erica Parks

Erica Ransom Parks, 38, of Bladenboro went to her heavenly home on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at Duke Medical Center, where she battled a rare auto-immune disease.

Erica was born in Bladen County on January 22, 1984. She was a loving daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, niece, teacher, and friend to all who knew her.

She was a member of Galeed Baptist Church, where she taught a children’s Sunday School class and was a leader with AWANA. In 2002, Erica graduated as a Knight from Bladenboro High School. During her high school days, she worked as a firefighter and first responder with the Elizabethtown Fire Department. This was the beginning of her lifelong love of serving others.

Erica graduated in 2005 from UNCW where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice. While attending college she received her basic EMT and the love for the career she would follow. She moved on to receive her EMT-Intermediate and then Paramedic certifications. She received her EMT-Instructor certification and then began teaching part-time.

Before joining Robeson County EMS and Lumberton Rescue, Erica worked with Clarkton Rescue and Bladenboro Rescue.  In her first year with Robeson County, she received the Paramedic of the Year Award.

Erica began her journey teaching at Robeson Community College in 2016 as a part-time instructor before being named Emergency Medical Services Program director in 2020.

She taught various EMS classes including EMT; EMS Clinical Practicum I, II, and III; Pharmacology; Advanced Airway Management; Cardiology I and II; Patients with Special Challenges, Medical and Trauma Emergencies, Life Span Emergencies, and the EMS Capstone course and was to teach in the EMS Bridge Program this fall.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, June 12, 2022, at 3 p.m. at Galeed Baptist Church. The family will receive friends form 1-2:45 prior to the service at the Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery

Erica was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Levy and Gladys Pait; paternal grandparents, Marion “Buddy” and Merle Ransom; and stepfather, Ronnie Heustess.

She is survived by her husband of 5 years, Austin Kyle Parks; her precious son, Levi Hunter Parks; mother, Sonya Pait Heustess; father, James Eric Ransom, and wife Lea; brother, Cade Ransom; sister, Brae Bailey and husband Nolan; her nephew, Cooper Bailey; and grandmother, Thelma Dennis.

Memorials may be made to Galeed Baptist Church, 571 Galeed Church Rd. Bladenboro, N.C. 28320

Funeral arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, N.C. 28301

Online condolences may be made at www.jerniganwarren.com