Dr. James Milton Parrish, Sr.

Jim was born in Phil Campbell, Alabama on June 9, 1922 the middle child of five to Felix Newton Parrish and Martha Idella Wamsley Parrish. When he was in third grade his teacher told him he should be a college professor. He was not sure what that meant at the time but the words started him on his life-long path as an educator and a learner. He completed his BS and MBA at the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) and his Doctorate in Economics at the University of North Carolina. He served as the founding Dean of the College of Business at the University of North Florida as well as dean at Mississippi State University and Drexel University. He was instrumental in helping these and other institutions gain AASCB accreditation and was President of the Eastern Association of College Business Deans and the Southern Association of College of Business Deans. In addition to his administrative duties, he continued to teach classes in order to stay in touch with students. He served his country in WWII and later worked in the Pentagon as Director of Education for the Armed Services. He was a generous and caring individual. He fondly remembered each person he met, every place he visited, and the details of each life experience. Along with his amazing memory, he had a gift for storytelling that brought those memories to life for all who had the pleasure of listening to his stories.

Jim is preceded in death by his wife of 65 years Doris Todd Parrish; his eldest son, James M. Parrish, Jr.; his beloved grandson, Michael Griffin Parrish; his brothers’ Felix N. Parrish, Jr. and Charles Hoyt Parrish; and his sisters’ Mildred A. Jackson and Martha Jeanell Oliver.

Jim is survived by his children Patricia Parrish Dukes and her husband Russell H. Dukes; Robert Todd Parrish and his wife Peggy Simpson; Michael Y. Parrish and his wife Emily G. Parrish; Stephen G. Parrish; and his son Jim’s wife Kay Duke Parrish. He is survived by nine loving grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren with one more on the way.

Funeral services will be held on July 20, 2016 at Hardage-Giddens Greenlawn Funeral Home with a family gathering at 9:30 AM, visitation at 10:00 AM, and funeral services at 11:00 AM. He will be interred at Greenlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Jim has requested donations be made to the James M. Parrish scholarship fund at the University of North Florida. Donations can be made online at https://www.alumni.unf.edu/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?&pid=330&srcid=33.

Contributors should complete the form with the tribute information at the bottom in memory of James Parrish. Donations can also be mailed to Teresa Nichols, Director of Development, Coggin College of Business, University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32224. Checks should be made out to the UNF Foundation and please indicate that the gift is a tribute to Dr. James M. Parrish.

The family sincerely appreciates the loving care, support and friendship of the staff and residents of Allegro Senior Living. We are also grateful for the special caregivers from Concierge Care who treated him like their own grandfather, finally, thank you to the nurses and staff of Community Hospice for their loving care in Jim’s final weeks.

Arrangements are under the direction of Hardage-Giddens Greenlawn Funeral Home and Cem-etery. Please offer condolences at www.greenlawnjacksonville.com