Phyllis Parrish

Mrs. Phyllis Nelson Parrish, 94, of Winston-Salem passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 16, 2019. She was the first child born to Coy J. Nelson and Lois Marshall Nelson and she grew up in Walkertown.  After graduation from Walkertown High School in 1941, she began her career as a secretary in an office in the Reynolds Building. Since she grew up as a Moravian, she was an excellent record keeper with an attention to detail. She was later employed by Pine Hall Brick and Pipe and retired from Forsyth Memorial Hospital in 1986. She married Rutherford Ogburn Parrish on July 16, 1943 and celebrated 68 years of marriage before his death in 2011.

She was a devoted member of Ardmore United Methodist Church for over 50 years and treasured the many friendships she made, especially in the Christian Fellowship Sunday school class.  Phyllis enjoyed volunteering and loved helping others at Arbor Acres and Homestead Hills after she retired.  Her sweet spirit and positive outlook in all she did will be forever an inspiration to those who knew and loved her.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Polly Vance, and her brother C. James Nelson (Jim).

Her love of family and pride she took in all they did was evident throughout her life. She is survived by her daughter Kathy Horton (Roger) of Clemmons, grandson Brent Daniels of Winston-Salem, and granddaughters Shannon Heinsohn (Curtis) of Raleigh, and Carrie Slaughter (Jase) of Holly Springs, great-grandchildren Maddie McDonald, Sidney and Aaron Daniels, and twins Addison and Aiden Slaughter.

The family extends sincere gratitude to the staff at Trinity Elms Assisted Living, Trinity Elms Skilled Nursing, and the Palliative Care Unit at Forsyth Memorial Hospital for the care they gave Phyllis during her last year.

A funeral service will be held Monday, April 22, 2019, at 2:00 pm at Hayworth Miller Funeral Home on Silas Creek Parkway with Rev. Joe Hout officiating.  The family will receive friends from 12:30 until 2:00.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ardmore United Methodist Church, 630 S. Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.