Robert Hunter Parrish

Robert Hunter Parrish, Jr, better known as Bob, of Thomasville, Georgia passed away Saturday, 19 July 2025 at Archbold Memorial Hospital due to complications from surgery. He was born 6 August 1944 in Andalusia, Alabama to The Reverend Robert Hunter Parrish, Sr and Flora Taylor Parrish.
He is survived by his wife of forty-three years, Jinanne Bennett Parrish, whom he married 18 July 1982 in Tallulah Falls, Georgia. He is also survived by his children, Robert Hunter Parrish, III (Denise) and Nancy Carolyn Parrish; two grandsons, Robert Hunter Parrish, IV and Samuel Emmerson Parrish; nieces Margaret Scott Whitfield (Gaius), Elizabeth Scott Oswalt (Phil); Lynn Parrish Brown (Danny); a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews; and his beloved polydactyl cat, Mittens. He is preceded in death by his sister, Margaret Parrish Scott; brother, Aaron Faegin Parrish; and parents Flora Taylor and The Reverend Robert Hunter Parrish, Sr.
Bob grew up in Alabama and lived in various towns, as his father was a Baptist minister. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. Additionally, he obtained his Master of Education and his sixth-year degree, Education Specialist at Valdosta State University. He began his teaching career at Clarkston High School in Dekalb County Georgia where he taught for five years. The remaining twenty-five years of his career in public education were spent in the Thomas County School System. He treasured the years he spent at Magnolia-Chappell School and his years as principal of Cross Creek Elementary School.
Following his retirement from public schools, he was an Adjunct Professor of Education at Thomas University, supervising middle and high school student teachers. During Bob's seventeen-year membership at Thomasville Methodist Church, he taught the Sue McTier Sunday School class and served on various boards. For the past five years he has been a member of Dawson Street Methodist Church and was serving as the pianist and part-time Sunday School teacher. Bob also served as Minister of Music at Boston Baptist Church and Westside Baptist Church. One of his colleagues said of him, "Bob is the most highly skilled and respected, multi-talented maestro I know." Bob was a member of and pianist for the Thomasville Kiwanis Club for thirty years where he received several awards for his service and leadership, receiving two President's Awards, Distinguished Secretary Award, Kiwanian of the Year Award and a Distinguished Service Award. He was also the pianist for several years for the Thomasville Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.
Bob, being a great historian, valued his lineage and involved himself in the genealogical research of his ancestors. He was a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, through his ancestor, Simeon Bowden; Sons of the American Revolution, Thigpen Trail Chapter through his ancestor Jonathan Wiliams; Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims through his ancestor James Taylor; he was especially proud of his two Huguenot ancestors, Pierre Bauduoin and Jean Dauphin, protestant refuges to Virginia from France after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. Additionally, he was a member of Thomasville Landmarks Thomasville History Center and the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. Besides being embroiled in history, Bob was a consummate pianist. He was never happier than being on a piano bench or standing in front of a Sunday School class. He welcomed most any opportunity to play and teach. His love of history showed with every presentation he made, speaking or musical, he took the opportunity to share a history lesson. Besides being a talented pianist and excellent teacher, Bob was a raconteur par excellence. He was forthright in his opinions, and you always knew where he stood. He never met a stranger.
A service will be held Wednesday, July 23 at 11:00 a.m. at Dawson Street Methodist Church, followed by a burial and committal service at 1:00 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Dawson Street Methodist Church, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Shriners Hospital Crippled Children's Hospital, Miss Kitty Feline Sanctuary.
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