Nannie Ruth (Nichols) Parrish

Nannie Ruth Nichols Parrish, 93, passed away peacefully at Magnolia Cottage Care on Saturday, April 24, 2021. She was born on January 19, 1928 to William N. Nichols and Sallie Herring Nichols.

Nannie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sibling. She was a graduate of Southwood High School, a devout Christian, and lifelong member of Rivermont Presbyterian Church, where she helped start the Women’s Circle Group. She was a Cub Scout den mother and ran her own handbag business for several years.

Nannie had a quick wit and loved to cut up and laugh and have a good time. She taught herself to be a ventriloquist and loved using her dummy, “Andy”, to entertain children. She insisted on reading “The Christmas Story” every Christmas Eve at her house, where she assigned parts for her family to act out.

Nannie is survived by her sons, Robert and wife, Gloria, and Kevin and wife, Becky, of Kinston; sister, Eleanor Hawkins Curry, of Troy, NC; three grandchildren, Amy M. Vetter (Brian), Bobby Parrish (Susan), and Austin Parrish (Katherine); six great-grandchildren, Jordan McLawhorn, Jackson Parrish, Maegan Parrish, Lana Parrish, Charlotte Parrish, and Audrey Grace Parrish; four step-great-grandchildren, Chase McLawhorn (Cassi), LeLand Vetter (Christy), Daniel Vetter, Megan Jones; and four step-great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Nannie Ruth was predeceased by her high-school sweetheart and beloved husband of 75 years, Clifton, who passed away on March 1, 2021; four brothers, Paul, Will, Norwood, and Bobby Nichols; two sisters, Ozella Harmon and Marie Waller, and grandson-in-law, Steve McLawhorn.

The family would like to thank Sherry and Jeff Griffin and the staff of Magnolia Cottage Care for the loving and compassionate care of Nannie for the last seven years.

A visitation will be at Howard-Carter Funeral Home at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 29, 2021 followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. with burial following the service at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Kinston.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rivermont Baptist Church, 2478 US 258 South, Kinston, NC 28504.