Paul Henry Parham II

Paul Henry Parham, II, 81, of Jackson, AL, died Saturday, October 4, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 8, 2014, at 11:00 AM at First United Methodist Church of Jackson. Interment will follow at Trinity Memorial Gardens. Rev. Johnnie Kendrick will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Pilots for Christ at P.O. Box 707, Monroeville, AL 36461 or c/o the First United Methodist Church of Jackson’s Pilot’s for Christ Fund. Mr. Parham was a native of Arkansas and a resident of Jackson for more than 40 years. He was owner and founder of Parham & Parham, Inc. Engineering and Contracting and built the first plywood mill, chip-n-saw mill, wafer board mill and OSB mill in the South. Mr. Parham was a very patriotic man who strongly believed in the value of hard work. He was a great contributor to his community, county and state. Mr. Parham was an active member of the Alabama Forestry Association as well as the chairman of the Jackson Industrial Development Board for over two decades. The Jackson Industrial Park bears his name as well as Eagle Stadium at Jackson Academy in honor of his support and the numerous contributions he has made over the years. Jackson Academy also dedicated the 2011-2012 football season and the 2012 Annual to Mr. Parham. He served on the Jackson Academy Board of Directors for 41 years, 20 of which he served as Chairman of the Board. During this time all three of his children graduated from Jackson Academy and had their graduation certificates signed by their father. Mr. Parham has also served as Chairman of the Building Committee at First United Methodist Church for the Christian Life Center and chairman of the Jackson Hospital Board for five years. He was one of two individuals asked by the mayor to raise money for a monument honoring local veterans from Civil War through Vietnam which is located at City Hall. He served on the Republican Executive committee for 20 years and the State Executive Committee for 25 years representing First District. In 1975 he was named Jackson’s Man of the Year and in 2013 he was inducted into the Alabama Independent School Association Hall of Fame. Mr. Parham loved the Braves, Saints, Auburn, and Jackson Academy. To those who knew him he was the epitome of a “True Southern Gentleman.” Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Molly C. Parham of Jackson, his three children, Debbie Parham Bolton of Jackson, Mike Parham (Donna Andrews) of Jackson, and Paul H. “Trae” Parham, III of Montrose, two sisters, Nanci Parham Thompson (Wade) of Fordyce, AR, Gwen Parham Gresham, PhD (Jimmy) of Harrison, AR, one grandchild, Michael Walter Parham, an honorary family member, Mrs. Louise Vaughn of Jackson. Active Pallbearers will be Embrel Vaughn, Joe Harris, Robert Thomas, Wayne Blackwell, Walter Looper, Bryan Lindsey, Ken Hundley, Wallace Nelson and Andrew Williams. Honorary Pallbearers will be Kenny Burnette, Fairly Morton, George Morton, Louis Finlay, the Members of the Jackson Supper Club and, in memoriam, Coach Paul Nix. The family would like to offer special recognition and thanks to all past employees of Parham & Parham, Inc., Mrs. Louise Vaughn and Mr. Kelvin Chapman. The family will receive friends Tuesday, October 7, 2014, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Lathan Funeral Home, Jackson. To leave online condolences please visit www.lathanfuneralhomejackson.com. Lathan Funeral Home, Jackson, directing.