Sharyn Lucas-Parker is the Journalism/Yearbook Production and theatre teacher at Lakewood High School in Sumter, SC. She is the yearbook and literary magazine adviser, and produces segments for the broadcast club. She is a former Teacher of the Year.
For the past 12 years, she has been the school’s ambassador to fundraise for the American Heart Association. She is a longtime member of Lakewood’s School Improvement Council. In the evenings and on weekends, she serves as a homebound instructor to students whose illnesses prevent them from attending school.
Sharyn is a former award-winning newspaper reporter and columnist for The (Sumter) Item and The (Rock Hill) Herald. She is the former host of In Focus, a community talk show that highlighted local events and human interest stories. A graduate of Columbia College, she majored in Speech and Drama.
At Church Of God By Faith Sumter NO. 1, she is the administrative assistant to Pastor James and Elect-Lady Alice Lucas. She also works closely with the youth department, and is the adviser to the children’s church ministry. She is an advocate for mental health programs. Her community involvement includes working alongside her husband, Elder Tony Parker, to provide life skills to men and women transitioning through the judicial system. Their outreach efforts focus on partnering with agencies and facilities that provide substance abuse treatment, counseling and other resources to the homeless, needy families and military veterans. For several years, Sharyn and Tony have funded scholarships for Lakewood seniors who have overcome obstacles and persevered to graduate.
Sharyn and Tony are the proud parents of sons Brandonn and Phillip.