Dudley Elliott Parris

Born on January 4, 1940, in St. Michael, Barbados, Dudley Elliott Parris was the beloved son of Dudley Parris and Catherine (Niles) Parris. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in a loving home with his two older sisters, Eileen and Monica.

As a youth, Elliott attended Barbados’ Harrison College secondary school where he excelled in academics and earned a full scholarship to the University of the West Indies, Mona (Jamaica) for undergraduate studies. His passion for education eventually led him to UCLA, where he earned master’s and doctorate degrees in sociology prior to pursuing a lifelong career as an educator. Elliott spent 50+ years as a teacher/professor at various schools in his home country of Barbados and the United States, including Harrison College (Barbados), Yale University, American University, Howard University, and University of Maryland, College Park. He spent the past 31 years as a professor at Bowie State University, where he rose to position Chair for the Department of Behavioral Sciences & Human Services and the recently created Department of Sociology and Child Studies.

Elliott was also an avid lover of almost anything related to the arts, from music to movies, theatre, dance, and poetry. This passion took him on a short detour from his career as an educator. From 1988 to 1995, Elliott served as the second ever Director of the Barbados National Cultural Foundation (NCF). During his tenure, Elliott advocated for greater investment and sponsorship in NCF programs and festivals. He also oversaw the introduction of the Bajan Culture Village, which brought to the forefront forgotten pieces of Bajan heritage, such as warri, stilt walking, and Landship. These cultural elements of creativity, resilience, and community are still celebrated today during Barbados’ annual and world-renowned Crop Over Festival.

Above all his accomplishments, Elliott was a devoted husband to his wife (Phyllis) and father to their four children (Girma, Jason, Kesi, and Brett). Elliott and his wife were in a loving marriage for nearly 50 years before Phyllis passed away in 2019. They built a family and home of unconditional love, joy, and security. Elliott raised his children with the same guidance, warmth, and gentle patience he displayed in the classroom, but with an added depth of love that only a parent could possess. He taught his children to always be respectful and kind, to work hard toward their goals, and emit grace and humility through all of life’s ups and downs.

Elliott will be deeply missed, and his legacy will live on through his family and all of those he touched for generations to come. May he rest in eternal peace.

Visitation will be held at Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, 11800 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE, SILVER SPRING, MD 20904, US, on September 1, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

A Funeral Service will take place at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, 4101 Norbeck Rd r, r, Rockville, MD 20853, US, on September 2, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

A Committal Service will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20906, US, on September 2, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm.