Willar Dean Parrish

Mrs. Willar Dean Parrish (Dean) of Erwin, NC, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 13th, around 3:30 pm. at SECU Hospice House of UNC Johnston Health. Dean celebrated her 91st Birthday in April and in May suffered a serious stroke.

Dean was preceded in death by her first husband, Cyrus Bowman Carter, and second husband, James Fletcher Parrish; her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Arvie L. Jackson; and the late Mr. Woodrow McLamb; her siblings: Mrs. Peggy Johnson Thigpen, Mr. Arvie Jackson Jr., and Mrs. Anne J. Sykes. Her son, Cyrus Bowman Carter Jr., passed Feb. 20, 2025. She is survived by daughter Cynthia C. Raynor of Newton Grove, where she lives with her husband Randy and their 2 children and 3 grandchildren. Her son, who passed, has 4 children and numerous great-grandchildren. Her stepson Jimmy Parrish and his wife Cindy reside in Charleston, S.C.; they have two children. Willar Dean has two surviving sisters left: Mrs. Barbara Bradshaw and Mrs. Charlene Sutton, both of Erwin.

Growing up, Dean was one of 6 children. She had 1 brother, Arvie Jackson Jr., and 4 sisters, Peggy, Ann, Barbara, and Charlene. Dean grew up in Dunn and graduated from Dunn High School. She married Mr. Cyrus Bowman Carter and had a son, Cyrus Bowman Carter Jr., and a daughter, Cynthia Dianne Carter.

Dean worked for 20 years at Terry Hill Sewing Factory in Coats. She worked 24 years at Erwin Walmart as a custodian, where she was known for her friendly smile and immaculately clean bathrooms. She was good at what she did, and everyone knew it. She took her job seriously, and it was evident. Dean was also an avid gardener and loved flowers. Anyone who knew her knew that she had the most beautiful and well-manicured yards of anyone around. She was even awarded yard of the month in Erwin, one of her proudest achievements. Her other joys in life were her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, two poodles, and three koi fishponds (which she dug and created herself!). Willar Dean had a great love for the outdoors. In the last two years of her life, her health declined rapidly due to 4 strokes and Dementia. She then later moved in with her daughter, Cindy, who took great care of her.

The services for Willar Dean Parrish will be Saturday morning at Cromartie Miller Funeral Home and Chapel. Visitation and viewing will be at 10:00 am in the main viewing room. The Funeral Service will be delivered in the adjoining Chapel. The burial will be held in The Devotional Gardens Cemetery in Dunn. Food and fellowship for the family immediately following at South Erwin Baptist Church. Donations can be made in her memory to the South Erwin Baptist Church: attention, Pastor Drew Parker. The family will receive guests at the home of Cindy and Randy Raynor in Newton Grove. (225 North Johnson St.)