Honoring Sallie Parks

Sallie Parks. Photo by Tampa Bay Magazine / Win Wolloff.

If Not Me, Then Who?
If Not Now, Then When?

In a meeting or one-on-one encounter, you wanted to listen to Sallie, even if what she said was not always easy to hear. It was always straight talk articulated to motivate you to join her in acting for the good of the community.

Sallie’s “if not me” mindset translated to 60 years of distinctive service to Pinellas County. At one time, she served on 13 different nonprofit boards, and she served on the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners for eight years.

Most notably, Sallie was the founder of Pace Center for Girls in Pinellas and the first executive director of Pinellas County Arts Council. Gov. Charlie Crist named Sallie as a Governor’s Point of Light in 2010. The Girl Scouts of West Central Florida named her as a Woman of Distinction in 2018, and the Clearwater Historical Society selected Sallie as one of the 2021 Women’s History Month Exhibit Honorees.

Professionally, Sallie directed public relations and marketing for Mease Health Care System, which included two hospitals and an 80-physician clinic. Sallie also worked as a lobbyist and advocate for St. Petersburg College until 2003.

Few people knew Sallie was individually responsible for bringing “Silver Alerts” to Florida. Incensed by a Largo woman’s story of her elderly mother’s death after she drove into a canal, Sallie was determined to make sure such senseless deaths would be avoided in the future. She appealed to Governor Crist to sign an executive order implementing the lifesaving Silver Alert program in Florida. To date, 286 Florida senior citizens have been saved by this program.

If you were fortunate enough to be Sallie’s personal friend, you were witness to her energy and compassion for people. Sallie made a vow to herself to meet five new people every day. Worldwide travel, her true love, bolstered this commitment.

Sallie traveled as easily and as often as most people surf the internet. Over her lifetime, she visited 70 countries and all continents, immersing herself in the local arts, culture, cuisine, and most importantly, the people. She was seriously a one-woman United Nations.

About 35 years ago, Sallie lived in Japan for a year and a half. While there, she met her second husband, the Rev. Dr. Alden Matthews. It was a fairy tale in which they lived in harmony for over 24 years. Together, they relished their family of five daughters, one son, 11 grandchildren, Sallie’s sister and two nieces, and numerous lifelong friends.

Sallie was a devoted friend of Pinellas Community Foundation (PCF), on the Board of Governors for 12 years and serving as chair for two separate stints. Right before the pandemic, Sallie finished her board term, but her service continued. At her last board meeting, typical Sallie told us, “I’m still here to help.” When PCF was chosen to manage $30 million in federal COVID support funds earmarked for Pinellas nonprofit organizations, Sallie immediately stepped in to serve as the chairperson for the committees and administer weekly grant-approval meetings.

We welcome your contribution to the Sallie Parks Memorial Fund as a way to honor Sallie’s life and legacy and to celebrate her decades-long commitment of service to our community.

Sallie, go in peace, knowing you made a difference.