Barbara Ann Parrish, age 87, of Lawrenceville, Illinois, passed away on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Indiana.
Barbara Ann Parrish, age 87, of Lawrenceville, Illinois, passed away on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Indiana. She was born on August 13, 1937 in Tipton County, Tennessee, the daughter of Venoy and Mable (Rhodes) Smith.
Barbara Ann was a gentle soul who radiated southern charm and wit. Everyone was always greeted with a generous smile and heartfelt hello. Her generous nature was demonstrated in her early career choice and continued throughout her life. As a young woman she attended Nursing School and worked in a hospital in Memphis. Later she worked in home healthcare in Illinois. She married and had two sons, David and Michael Parrish. Always socially and civically active, she did art demonstrations at schools, and worked for charities and libraries. She was an avid reader, from historical fiction to every National Geographic ever printed. She loved a good story and was quite the storyteller herself. We all knew that when you saw the call was from Barbara, you knew a grand story was about to unfold. Travel, friends, boating, gardening, and animals were always a favorite subject. Her love of animals was shared by her dear companion, Mary Jo Collins. Born on a farm, she was always surrounded by animals and pets. Working side by side with Mary Jo at the Animal Hospital, she helped many and told the tales of beloved animals she met and owned. Ironically it was her big and loving heart that after a lifetime of giving endless love to others finally came to rest. Her love and memory will carry on in the endless number of lives she graced.
Preceding her in death were her parents.
Survivors include her companion, Dr. Mary Jo Collins of Lawrenceville, Illinois; two sons, David (Kenneth) Parrish of Augusta, Georgia and Michael (Ann) Parrish of Nashville, Tennessee; two brothers, Darrel (Glenda) Smith of Rapid City, South Dakota and Jerry (Barbara) Smith of Atoka, Tennessee; and one grandchild, Linus (Rachael) Parrish of Knoxville, Tennessee.
A Celebration of Life will be conducted on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. CST at the Emmons-Macey & Steffey Funeral Home in Lawrenceville, Illinois. Visitation will be on Tuesday 12:00 noon until the service hour of 3:00 p.m. CST at the funeral home. Memorial donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to the Lawrence County Humane Society or the Lawrence County Memorial Hospital.
