Damon Anthony (Six Eight) Parks

Damon Anthony Parks was born to Sheila Chatmon Jenkins and Kenneth Parks on August 17, 1975, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Damon was a loving son, brother, and uncle. He departed this life suddenly on Friday, February 16, 2024, at the age of 48.

Damon received his elementary education in the IPS school system and secondary education at Ben Davis High School. While at Ben Davis, he excelled in athletics where he helped lead the basketball team to the 1993 Indiana State Finals. Damon’s family doted on the 6’8” basketball phenom and was excited to hear his name mentioned on television or when a picture appeared in the newspaper. Damon also received multiple scholarship offers from Division One Universities. He later matriculated at Indiana University Indianapolis—Physical Education/Business Management.

On October 31, 1996, Damon suffered a life-altering spinal cord injury. With his faith and trust in God and love from family and friends, he was able to overcome the adversity. Following his injury, he became a motivational speaker for the Think First program (a spinal cord, brain injury, and shaken baby prevention program). For twenty-two (22) years he spoke at colleges, junior high and high schools, churches, prisons, antiviolence programs, long distance programs, and EKG programs (educating kids on gun violence). In addition, Damon played for the Indiana Pacers Wheelchair basketball team.

Damon enjoyed sharing his story with people of all ages. His desire was to inspire, motivate, and educate people on life’s obstacles and how to overcome them by changing the seemingly negative into a positive. He tried to give hope to the newly injured by teaching them how to use their situation to better help others and to realize that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

Damon never met a stranger. He showed so much love towards his nieces and nephews. He held his family and friends in high regard. He also loved music and would run over you in his wheelchair to get to the dance floor to get his groove on.

Damon was preceded in death by his mother, Sheila Jenkins. He will forever be remembered by his father, Kenneth Parks; step-father, Joel Jenkins; brothers, Kenneth “Big Kenny” Kennebrew (Marjorie), Pete Nagy (Julie), Kenneth “Lil Kenny” Parks; sisters, Shelly Anderson (Jay), Erika Suggs (Michael), Ebony Parks (Jason), ten nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends.

DAMON ANTHONY PARKS. A.K.A. “Six Eight” will forever be loved and missed!

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Damon Anthony (Six Eight) Parks, please visit our floral store.