Joan Smith Parrish

Joan Smith Parrish, 78, of Angier, NC, passed away at home on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Joan was born August 23, 1947 in Johnston County to the late Malcolm Bernard Smith & Josephine Johnson Smith. She was the youngest of 4 girls. Joan enjoyed her upbringing that included growing up farming and spending time with family. As a young girl, she attended Amelia Christian Church in Clayton and when her family moved to the Cleveland community, they started attending Shiloh Baptist Church and became members. She attended and graduated from Cleveland High School in 1965. This is where she met and dated her husband, Glenwood Parrish who she married July 3, 1965. Together they were very active members of Shiloh Baptist Church. They especially enjoyed singing in the choir and helping with the children’s and youth ministry even before they had children of their own. Joan and Glenwood were blessed with two children, Jody Glen and Angie Faith. In the last 5 years, they have attended and been members of Providence Presbyterian Church of McGee’s Crossroads. Joan enjoyed attending Sunday School, volunteering with the card ministry, singing in the choir, being a member of the women’s ministry at Providence and attending the Walking Group. Joan worked at the NC Fire Insurance Rating Bureau, the City of Raleigh Parking Violations Department and she later worked as an Administrative Assistant to the Senior Pastor at Saint Andrews United Methodist Church in Garner until her 25 year battle with heart failure began. She enjoyed many lifelong friendships made throughout her time at Cleveland School, Shiloh Baptist & being a member of the Cleveland Community for so long. Joan loved to travel and enjoyed planning affordable vacations for her family that included many trips to the NC beaches, Disney World and the NC mountains. She also enjoyed many trips with her friends and family with some of her favorite being New York, South Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, the Amish Country of Pennsylvania, a cruise to the Bahamas and Key West and local NC trips to the Whirligig Park in Wilson, the Billy Graham Library, Bald Head Island, and the Sylvan Heights Bird Park. Joan was an avid theatre patron and was a season ticket holder with the NC Theatre for many years along with attending lots of local theatre productions in Johnston County. Her most favorite musical was The Lion King. Joan was the biggest cheerleader and supporter of her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed watching them play sports, cheer, participate in band, sing in chorus, perform in musicals, play piano, and be there for their biggest moments in life along with being there any time day or night that they needed her. Joan had a wonderful sense of humor, loved to laugh, and always had the most positive outlook on life no matter the circumstances.

The family would like to thank the staff of WakeMed Heart & Vascular Physicians - Advanced Heart Failure with a special thank you to Dr. Russell, Tanaya Foster, & Malorie Evans. They would also like to thank Tonya & Kim along with the rest of Joan’s team from Transitions LifeCare.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Malcolm & Josephine Smith; sisters, Sue Hall & Clennis Stephenson. Survivors include her husband of 60 years, Glenwood Parrish; children, Jody Parrish and wife, Jennie; Angie Searcy and husband, Payton; grandchildren, Rassy Parrish, Gwena Searcy, Quinn Searcy, & Nadia DeJesus and her father and stepmother, Nicholas & Chrystal DeJesus; sister, Barbara Penny; many other beloved family members including sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00am on Friday, April 3, 2026, at Providence Presbyterian Church 14664 NC 210, Angier, NC The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service from 10:00 until 11:00am. The committal service will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park, Clayton, NC, on April 3, 2026.

In remembrance of Joan’s life, her family encourages donations to the Building Fund at Providence Presbyterian Church of McGee’s Crossroads 14664 NC-210 Angier, NC 27501 or online at providencepresb.org.