Clifton Parrish, Jr.

Clifton Parrish, Jr. passed away on Monday, March 1, 2021 at the age of 94.
Cliff was born December 20, 1926 to the late Novella Smith Parrish and Clifton Parrish, Sr. in Kinston, NC. He graduated from Southwood High School where he met the love of his life, Nannie Ruth Nichols. The high school sweethearts were married for 75 years on December 1, 2020.
Cliff proudly served his Country as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne in World War II.
He was an avid supporter of the Red Cross; was a licensed electrician and past President of the Ellis Canady Chapter of IAEI. Cliff started his electrical career with Kinston Electric Company (Electricon), was the founder of Parrish Electric Co. and later worked with Kinston-Lenoir County Inspection department, after which he was a North Carolina State Electrical Inspector.
Cliff was a man of faith and a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. He was an avid bass fisherman, hunter, and especially a beagler. There was nothing he enjoyed more than beagling unless it was teaching his grandchildren to water ski at the river or watching them play ball.
Cliff is survived by his wife, Nannie Ruth Parrish; sons, Robert (Gloria) and Kevin (Becky), all of Kinston; grandchildren, Amy M. Vetter (Brian) of Summerville, SC, Bobby Parrish (Susan) of Four Oaks, NC, and Austin Parrish (Katherine) of Greensboro, NC; great-grandchildren, Jordan McLawhorn, Jackson Parrish, Maegan Parrish, Lana Parrish, Charlotte Parrish, and Audrey Grace Parrish; step-great-grandchildren, Chase McLawhorn (Cassi) and Megan Jones; step-great-great-grandchild, Wyatt McLawhorn; brother-in-law, Alton Lee of Goldsboro, NC, as well as several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Cliff was predeceased by his sister, Katherine Estelle Lee.
The family will receive friends at 10:00 AM Saturday, March 6, 2021 at Howard-Carter Funeral Home followed by services at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow the service at Pinelawn Memorial Park.
For those in attendance, it is requested that social distancing be practiced and masks worn.