Marie Eleanor (Wilson) Parrish of West Chester, formerly of Greenport, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at her home in West Chester, Pa. She was 76 years old.
Parrish was born on February 9, 1939 in Greenport, N.Y. to the late George and Beryl (Atwell) Wilson.
Parrish was a 1959 graduate of Greenport High School, where she was the first cheerleader of African American descent. Parrish received a scholarship to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York to pursue a degree in millinery. Instead of matriculating to FIT, she married her high school sweetheart, Edward, and followed him to Rider University.
Parrish worked in the library at Rider University while her husband attended college. Upon his graduation from Rider University, Parrish and her family moved to Queens and then to Huntington, where Parrish was a homemaker. In 1976 Parrish and her family moved to the Marchwood neighborhood of Exton, Pennsylvania.
During her years in Exton she worked as an administrative assistant for several companies, including Great Valley School District, West Chester Area School District, and Unisys. In 1985, Parrish and and her husband moved to Sterling, Virgina until Edward’s untimely passing, when Parrish moved back to the West Chester area. Parrish finished her working career at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Animal Health division working as an executive assistant.
Parrish enjoyed traveling, especially to the Caribbean Islands. Aruba was her favorite island destination. Parrish also loved a party and she loved to dance. She knew many line dances and wasn’t afraid to show you her moves! Parrish had a flair for fashion and she always dressed to the nines. She was known for her accessories and colossal shoe and matching purse collection. Parrish served on the Exton Square Mall fashion board in the 1980’s. Her fashion sense was present right up to the end of her life.
Parrish was preceded in death by her husband Edward A. Parrish of Mattituck in February of 1986. Parrish is survived by her three sons Brian Parrish of New Mexico, Steven Parrish (Kenneth Akers) of Baltimore, Maryland, and Heath Parrish (Chip Harvey) of Malvern, Pennsylvania. She is also survived by one granddaughter, Melissa Parrish of Albuquerque, New Mexico, who was the love of her life.
Additionally, she is survived by two brothers George Wilson Jr. of Rahway, New Jersey and Lionel Wilson of Greenport, New York, several nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as her first cousin Jeannie Baynes of Las Vegas, Nevada who was like a sister to Parrish. In addition to her parents and husband, Parrish was preceded in death by her beloved dog Brutus, who was her loyal companion during the last 13 years of her life.
In celebration of Parrish’s life, services will be held at Unity Baptist Church in Mattituck, N.Y. on Saturday, April 11. Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the church followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Cutchogue Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contribution can be sent to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America in Parrish’s name.
DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes is assisting the family.
