Jenny Parks Silva

Katherine Jennifer Parks Silva, always called Jenny, was born in Houston, Texas, on February 1, 1963 to Patricia Marshall Crow and Wade Powell Parks, joining her older sister, Nancy “Missy” Parks. The family moved to Minnesota in 1969 and then on to Maryland in 1970. In 1991, Jenny and her sister ”adopted” their stepfather, James Kent Bausell.

Jenny worked in food service for a number of years before returning to school and graduating from the University of Maryland with a B.A. in criminal justice and then the University of Baltimore Law School with a J.D., Cum Laude distinction in 1997. Jenny started as a law clerk in the Howard County Office of the Public Defender. After being admitted to the bar, she began her 30-year career as a Public Defender. She started in the Baltimore city OPD juvenile division before transferring back to Howard County. She was a fierce advocate for her clients and handled all types of criminal cases from relatively minor matters to the most serious felonies. Her colleagues became her friends. Both her adversaries and the judges she appeared before respected Jenny and her clients appreciated her advocacy. 

Jenny took early retirement in 2020 and, along with her little dog, Bella, took a road trip visiting 24 National Parks and seeing many friends all over the US. After her once in a lifetime road trip, Jenny settled in Fort Pierce, Florida, where she bought a lake house in Lakewood Park.

Jenny passed away on July 11, 2024 at home surrounded by her loved ones after a 3 ½ month painful battle with cancer. Jenny will be dearly missed by her family, including her nephew Cooper Miller and her niece Lillian Miller. Jenny will also be remembered by her aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives she touched.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Save the Chimps (https://savethechimps.org/donate/ ) where she volunteered, or to a local animal shelter near you. Jenny adored the rescue dogs she adopted throughout her life.

A celebration of life will be held at Haisley Funeral & Cremation Service 3015 Okeechobee Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34947 on Saturday, July 27 at 10:00 AM. The service will also be streamed.