Hello, my name is Edna Parker. The reason for this email is to request assistance in being guided in the right direction on behalf of my son of whom of which is fighting for the surname of his firstborn son! To give a brief synopsis of the the events that lead to this email begins with my son, Taeveon Parker, becoming the father of a baby boy on March 25, 2021. 

 

 

     During the pregnancy, there was a lot of bickering between Taeveon and the mother of the baby, which can be typical behavior from two first-time parents who are neither married to each other nor in a committed relationship together. One of the issues began back in November of 2021 where Taeveon was informed by the soon to be mother that he may not be the father of the unborn child! So with that information coming to him as a shock, Taeveon’s next course of action was clear, out of an abundance of caution, he paid for a prenatal paternity test to make sure he was the father of the unborn child, which was verified at 99.9%. After the results, the bickering began to settle down a bit and Taeveon and the Parker family began preparing for the the arrival of the baby boy by purchasing the necessary items the baby would need to be properly cared for at birth. 

 

     On the day the mother was in labor, problems began to arise once again. She did not allow Taeveon in the delivery room to see the birth of his son which is inherently frustrating due to the added stress from worrying about the health of the baby because he was being delivered prematurely. The birth was a success but because of his premature status, he was to be in NICU for about a week. Taeveon was in the waiting room everyday, but even with the known paternity test results, without a court order activating the rights of the father, by default, the unwed mother has all rights to the baby. With those facts being present, the mother signed the birth certificate without his knowledge, preventing Taeveon from signing in the place where it would identify him as the father. In his frustration, Taeveon hired an attorney for his parental and visitation rights. There were several court appearances that were handled between the attorneys but in the midst of these discussions, Taeveon independently began issuing payments of child support to the mother for his son. 

 

     As a result of mediation, 50/50 custody and child support (which was already being paid) was ordered. During the initial announcement of the pregnancy, Taeveon was a happy and proud father-to-be who never doubted the paternity of the child until the uncertainty was made known by the mother-to-be and since the birth of the child, the mother is refusing to allow the child to have the last name of the father.  On November 16, 2022, there was a hearing where Judge Mark Rogers of Rutherford County Chancery court presided, requesting to change the child’s last name. After all parties testified, Judge Rogers ruled in favor of the Respondent (mother) stating that Taeveon did not show enough proof as to why the child’s last name should be changed. 

 

 

 

     Now I understand that the State of TN is a mother’s state but I feel that it’s not fair to the Fathers who play an active and prominent role in their child’s life and want the prestige and honor of having their son bear their last name to be denied. The father’s last name for a young man should come with great pride and tradition especially when that father has been a model citizen, a pillar of the community, a young man with humility, it should be the right thing that’s done because it’s the right thing to do.  I am fighting for my son because I feel there needs to be a positive change. 

 

     My son is 22yrs old and even though he’s young, he’s also very mature and has stepped up from the very beginning. In the reading of the judge’s findings, he granted that Taeveon be added to the birth certificate as the father so that is a win and we’re thankful but why do we have to fight so hard to be awarded what’s right? Dr. Martin Luter King Jr. said “The time is always right to do what’s right”. 

 

     I am asking for help with spreading the word to State Representatives and Legislators! I’m starting a petition in hopes to have these laws revised in the benefit of fathers who are standing up to be the fathers GOD called them to be and who are wanting to be respected and included in the eyes of the law. 

 

 

 

Please help me get to the right people and help spread the word! Thank you for your time!