Gerald Eugene Parks (Gerry or Jerry), encountered Jim Jones in the 1950’s, when he was 21 and played piano at South Charleston’s United Holiness Temple in Indiana (Stafford, 2013). Jones came to preach and invited Gerald to speak at Peoples Temple. He and his family, specifically his wife Patty Parks, began attending sermons but were not members. After moving to California in 1966, they became members of the Peoples Temple while it was in Redwood Valley (FBI Serial 1644-3). Gerald was hopeful about Jones’ humanitarian messages and the way he preached about equality. While they did not live communally and Gerald continued his work outside of the church, they gave 25% of their annual income to the Peoples Temple, and sold their home to give $16,000 to Jones as he moved to Guyana (FBI Serial 1644-3).
On April 1st, Gerald along with his wife, Patty, son, Dale, daughters, Brenda and Tracy moved to Jonestown. A few days later his mother, Edith Parks, joined them (FBI Serial 1644-3). While there, Gerald immediately became aware Jonestown was not the paradise promised. He was brought up in front of the council within his first few days for having claimed that they should have waited to come and he wanted to go back to the US. He was beaten for these rumors (FBI Serial 1644-3, Q781 Transcript). He began an escape plan, which he believed Jones or his inner council became aware about. Gerald described Jonestown as an armed camp where they were held prisoner (FBI Serial 1644-3, Reiterman, Raven, 539).
Gerald and his family chose to defect with Ryan and the reporters. Jones claimed later that Gerald Parks was one of the members who was pretending to leave to kill the congressman (Reiterman, Raven, 540), but Gerald willingly gave up a pocket knife and showed no signs of this violence (Reiterman, Raven, 540). While at the airstrip, Gerald’s wife Patty was one of the only defectors who died. He and his family survived by hiding in the jungle (FBI Serial 1644-3).
They returned to Ukiah, California and attempted to continue their lives as normal. Gerald worked at a local Safeway until retirement, where he then enjoyed his life with his family. He was blessed with 2 granddaughters and 6 great-granddaughters, and passed away peacefully November 1st 2022 (obituary).
Diaz, Tracy. “Gerald Parks Obituary (2022) – Ukiah, CA – Legacy.” Gerald Eugene Parks-Legacy, 20 Oct. 2022.
Institute, Jonestown. “Q781 Transcript.” Edited by Adrian Whicker. Transcribed by Michael Bellefountaine, Alternative Considerations of Jonestown Peoples Temple, 2022.
Investigation, Federal Bureau. “Serial 1644-3.” Edited by Fielding M McGehee. Transcribed by Rebecca Moore, Alternative Considerations of Jonestown Peoples Temple, 2022.
Stafford, Tom. “Parks Family Carries on 35 Years after Jonestown.” Springfield, Springfield News Sun, 18 Nov. 2013.
Reiterman, Tim, et al. “Part Seven: Nightmare.” Raven: The Untold Story of the Rev. Jim Jones and His People, J.P. Tarcher/Penguin, New York, New York, 2008, pp. 539–540.