Henry Alexander Parrish

Henry Alexander Parrish, 90, died on October 12, 2018 of Alzheimer’s Disease, at The Fellowship Home at Brookside. Born in Wrens, Georgia on January 10, 1928, he was the oldest son of Carey A. Parish and Beulah A. Parish. He graduated from Wrens High School in 1945 and University of Georgia with a BA degree in Agriculture in 1949. He met Sarah Cunningham Gilbert when they were both high school teachers in Baxley, GA, and they married in Belton, SC in 1951.
Henry went to work for the Langdale Company and moved with his family to Lakeland, Florida in 1958. While living in Lakeland, Henry worked as the Sales Representative for The Langdale Company traveling the state of Florida during the weekdays, occasionally inviting his son, Steve to accompany him. On weekends, however, he always made himself available to his family, whether it was enjoying bridge games with his wife and friends or playing in the yard with his children and those in the neighborhood. However, Henry most often was found maintaining his yard to perfection. This passion continued, when moving to Valdosta, where he accepted a promotion as Marketing V.P. at the Langdale Company home office where he stayed until his retirement in the late 1990’s. He loved his routine of nightly walks around the middle school track and daily ones around his lovely neighborhood. He enjoyed all of nature, especially the coolness of the Georgia and North Carolina mountains and bird-watching. He and his wife, Sarah, especially enjoyed attending plays at Valdosta State College, where she worked for many years, or concerts at the symphony. Stricken with Alzheimer’s Disease around 2006, Henry continued to enjoy all of his familiar activities thanks to his loving wife whose unwavering devotion provided him with the highest quality of life until she fell and broke her back 2 years ago and was no longer able.
Survivors include his caring wife of 67 years, Sarah Gilbert Parrish of Valdosta, GA; sister-in-law Dr. Mary Boyd (Zinn); daughter Karen Parrish Lucas of St. Simons Island, daughter Lynn Parrish Thompson (Chuck) of Greenville, SC; son Stephen Alexander Parrish of Olympia, WA; granddaughter Ashley Rhodes Fox (Robby), granddaughter Kate Eleanor Fagan (Alex) of Greenville, SC; grandson Stephen Tradd Thompson of Campbell, CA; and grandson Joseph Alexander Thompson of Columbia, SC, a niece and several nephews. His parents Carey A. Parish and Beulah Avera Parish, both of Wrens, GA., an older sister, Anne Parish Farmer of Augusta, GA, and a younger brother Cary Parish of Corpus Christie, TX, preceded him in death.
Henry was a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of Lakeland and The Rotary Club of Valdosta enjoying fellowship and fundraising for the welfare of children and participating in community activities, especially serving in the Soup Kitchen.
Henry was a faithful and active member of both St. David’s Episcopal Church of Lakeland and Christ Episcopal Church of Valdosta where he served as usher during weekly Sunday worship services and enjoyed fellowship within his church family.
Henry was a most beloved husband, son, brother, dad, granddad, and friend. He was reserved yet playful, had a sweet, gentle disposition, hard work ethic, unwavering devotion to his family, and an internal joy that overflowed into his love of singing and even humming familiar tunes when he no longer could remember the words. This was true of him until his final days.
The family wishes to express deep appreciation to the staff at Fellowship Home at Brookside for the caring and supportive environment they have provided throughout the past months.
Funeral Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 18, 2018, at Christ Episcopal Church, 1521 N Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31602. Rev. Dave Johnson will officiate and interment will follow the service in the Church Memorial Garden and the family will receive guests in the Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be most welcome to Christ Episcopal Church or The Alzheimer’s Association. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane.