Obituary: Marie Wilson Parrish, Formally of Greenport, Dies at 76

Info via DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes

Died: March 25, 2015

Services: Services will be held at Unity Baptist Church in Mattituck on Saturday, April 11, 2015.

Visitation: Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the church followed by funeral service at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Cutchogue Cemetery.

Obituary: Marie Eleanor (Wilson) Parrish, former North Fork resident, passed away at her home in West Chester, PA on Wednesday, March 25, 2015. She was 76.

Marie was born on February 9, 1939 in Greenport to the late George and Beryl (Atwell) Willson.

She graduated from Greenport High School in 1959 where she was the first cheerleader of African American descent.

Marie then received a scholarship to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City to pursue a degree in millinery.

Instead of matriculating to FIT, she married her high school sweetheart, Edward A Parrish, of Mattituck, and followed him to Rider University.

Marie worked in the library at Rider University while Edward attended college and after he graduated from Rider University, Marie and her family moved to Queens, and then to Huntington, where she was a homemaker.

In 1976, Marie and her family moved to the Marchwood neighborhood of Exton, PA.

While 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, the couple moved to Sterling, VA until Edward’s untimely passing in 1986, when Marie moved back to the West Chester, PA area.

Marie finished her working career at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Animal Health division working as an Executive Assistant.

She enjoyed traveling, especially to the Caribbean Islands; Aruba was her favorite island destination.

Marie also loved a party and she loved to dance.

She also 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.

She served on the Exton Square Mall fashion board in the 1980’s.

Marie 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; two brothers George Wilson Jr. of Rahway, New Jersey; and Lionel Wilson of Greenport; several nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as her first cousin Jeannie Baynes of Las Vegas, Nevada who was like a sister to Marie.

In addition to her parents and husband, Marie was preceded in death by her beloved dog Brutus, who was her loyal companion during the last 13 years of her life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contribution can be sent to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America in Marie’s name.

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