Eugene Jackson Parrish

Reverend Eugene Jackson "Jack" Parrish The Reverend Jack Parrish went to be with the Lord Thursday, June 6, 2013, at The Laurels. He was born August 10, 1927, at Nortonsville, in Albemarle County, the youngest of five children of Louis Cranston Parrish and Mamie Wood Parrish. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers; Kermit W. Parrish and Louis C. Parrish Jr.; and sisters, Juanita Via and Frances Gibson. The Reverend Jack graduated from Broadus Wood High School in 1945. In the fall of that year he joined the United States Merchant Marines, and took training at Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, New York. After finishing training and earning his Coast Guard Certification, he sailed on many different ships, mostly Liberty Ships of World War II vintage. Various ships carried him to ports in England, France, Germany, Italy and North Africa. After leaving the U.S. Merchant Marines, he attended the Nashville Auto-Diesel College and opened his own auto repair shop at Nortonsville until 1954. He was then drafted in the United States Army. After basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, he was sent to Germany where he spent seventeen months in the 704th Ordinance Battalion. After being discharged and returning home to Nortonsville, he begain working at the Charlottesville Auto Parts Corporation. After several years he worked his way up to becoming part owner and Vice President of the company. When the business was sold he and his wife, Glory, leased and operated a small grocery store (called Markwood) located between Nortonsville and Earlysville for a couple of years. Rev. Jack had been very active in Bingham United Methodist Church after his marriage to Glory Roach in 1957. He served as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher, and also as a Lay Leader on the Charlottesville District. In 1973, he was appointed to fill in as a Part-time Local Pastor at Mount Chapel United Methodist Church near Ruckersville. Not realizing at the time that the Lord was preparing him for future service, he thought he would be there for only a few weeks. But the annual Conference of the Virginia United Methodist Church appointed him as Pastor at Mt. Chapel for 1974 and 1975. Now realizing that God had called him he began to prepare for the education he needed. He received the required hours of college at Piedmont Community College in Charlottesville and Rappahannock Community College at Glens, Virginia, near West Point. He got his Seminary training at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. He served on the Schuyler/Green Mt. Charge in Nelson County, the West Mathews Charge at Mobjack in Mathews County; then to Ebenezer UMC at Oldhams in Westmoreland County. The last appointment was Weyers Cave UMC in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley before retiring in 1994. He stayed very busy in retirement for many years; being Pastor at Mount Vernon/South River Charge for a while. Also, filling in for other pastors. He preached many revivals, (which he really liked doing) not only at Methodist Churches, but also Baptist and Brethren. He filled in as Pastor for a while at Stanardsville Baptist until they got their own Minister. Jack was a family man and a "people" person. He was always friendly and he never met a stranger. He loved pitching horse shoes, playing Scrabble and going to the University of Virginia Women's Home basketball games. He was a former member of the Weyers Cave Ruritans and a member of the Albemarle Ruritan Club. He enjoyed Bluegrass, Country, and especially, Gospel music. He was a member of the Piedmont Virginia Fiddle and Banjo Association. Jack is survived by his wife of 55 years, Glory Roach Parrish of Charlottesville; three daughters, Diane Bunyea and her husband, Matt, of Ruckersville, Marcia Parrish of Charlottesville, and Becky Sadler and her husband, Barry, of Dutton, Va.; three grandchildren, Kelly Smoker and her husband, Philip, of Keswick, Brandon Bunyea and his wife, Sarah, of Stanardsville, and Jessica DeHoux and her husband, Josh, of Foster, Va.; five great grandchildren, Tyler, Will, Mason and Lily Bunyea of Stanardsville, and Jackson DeHoux of Foster, VA; one sister-in-law (who is just like a sister) Geneva Marshall; one special niece, LaVerne Shifflett (who is just like a daughter) and her husband, Gary, and their daughter, Lauren Shifflett (who is just like a granddaughter) and her daughter, Willow (who is just like a great-granddaughter); one other niece, Marjorie Shifflett; three nephews, George Via, Ronnie Parrish and Louis Parrish; and two very special young women, Alison and Adrienne Smith (who he considered granddaughters). A funeral service will be conducted 2 p.m. Sunday, June 9, 2013, at Aldersgate United Methodist Church with Reverend Scott Davis officiating. Interment services will be conducted 5 p.m. Sunday at Gentry's United Methodist Church Cemetery in Boonesville. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. Saturday, June 8, 2013, at the Teague Funeral Home. The family would like to extend special thanks to the entire staff of The Laurels and especially to Charlotte, Kim, Sandy, Nikia and Jennifer. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association, 1160 Pepsi Place, Suite 306, Charlottesville, VA 22901 or to Legacy Hospice, 500 Faulconer Drive, Suite 100, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Friends may sign the guest register at teaguefuneralhome.com.



This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.