Evalyn Hughes Parrish, age 85, of Carrollton, GA, passed away peacefully on November 29, 2025, surrounded by her family. She was born on April 11, 1940, in Nolensville, TN, and was raised on a dairy farm with her loving parents and two sisters, who were her best friends.
Evalyn attended Franklin High School in Franklin, TN, where she was a cheerleader, a basketball player, and the 4-H Barnwarming Queen. She was also featured in an article in Seventeen Magazine.
She earned her Dental Hygiene degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis, where she met the love of her life, Dr. Joe Parrish, on a blind date. They would go on to spend the next 64 years in a wonderful marriage.
In 1968, they moved to Carrollton, GA, where Evalyn worked part-time at various local dental offices while raising her four children. She quickly became active in the community, always eager to serve others. Whether she was volunteering at the Soup Kitchen or Open Hands, co-chairing the Magnolia Ball, or helping to establish Alice’s House Children’s Home, Evalyn believed in putting others first.
She received the International Sertoma Service to Mankind Award and was the first woman to be honored as the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. She had the distinct honor of running with the Olympic torch through part of Carroll County during the 1996 games.
A passionate tennis player on the ALTA team, Evalyn also enjoyed playing bridge, participating in Lit Mu, and Art Study, and found great joy in leading several Bible studies. For 57 years, she was a devoted member of Tabernacle Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School, took care of the nursery, led Vacation Bible School, and held multiple Bible studies each week.
Evalyn treasured her children and grandchildren, often sharing pictures and stories about how proud she was of them. Above all, her greatest wish was to glorify God in everything she did, said, or touched.
Evalyn was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and LaRue Hughes. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Joe Parrish; her children, Brent Parrish (Kim) of Jackson, MS; Beth Whitehead (Kary) of Meridian, MS; Bill Parrish (Julie) of Carrollton, GA; and Mandy Jackson (John) of Carrollton, GA. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Samuel Parrish (Rachel) of Shreveport, LA; Will Whitehead of Atlanta, GA; Claire Edwards (Joey) of Tacoma, WA; Walker Whitehead of Nashville, TN; Wrenn Awbrey (Eli) of Atlanta, GA; Lucy Hughes Parrish of New York, NY; Mary Claire Martin (Trammell) of Madison, MS; John Parrish of Jackson, MS; Milly Jackson of Carrollton, GA; and Kate Jackson of Carrollton, GA; as well as her great-grandsons Calvin Parrish and Beckett Edwards. Additionally, she is survived by her sister, Carolyn Battle of Franklin, TN, and her beloved dog, Oliver.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 5, at 1:00 p.m. in the Worship Center of Tabernacle Baptist Church, with Dr. Stephen Allen officiating. A celebration of life will immediately follow in the fellowship hall. Interment will take place on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at Carroll Memory Gardens. Pallbearers will be John Parrish, Walker Whitehead, Will Whitehead, Trammell Martin, Eli Awbrey, and Scott Tidmore. Honorary pallbearers include her Monday and Friday Bible study groups, the Alice’s House Board of Directors and former board members, her Dinner Club friends, and friends from the Tabernacle Sunday School class.
Memorial contributions may be made to Alice’s House Children’s Home, a ministry Mrs. Evalyn deeply loved, supported, and championed throughout her life. Your gift in her memory will continue the work she cared so much about. Contributions may be mailed to P.O. Box 1596, Carrollton, GA 30112, or made online at: https://www.alices-house.com.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the entire staff of Tanner Medical Center, particularly the ICU nurses, and a special thank you to her caretaker, Connie Ransby.
Messages of condolence may be shared with the family at www.martin-hightower.com. Martin & Hightower Heritage Chapel is honored to serve the Parrish family during this difficult time.