Lewis Kennedy Luke Parrish

Augusta, GA---Mr. Lewis Kennedy “Luke” Parrish went home to be with the Lord on December 15, 2010 at University Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 pm tomorrow Friday, December 17, 2010 in the Platt’s Crawford Avenue Chapel with Reverend Sherrill Dunn officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Luke attended Berry College in Rome, GA and maintained active membership in the alumni till death. He married Margaret E. Jones on October 7, 1939 at Marks Road Baptist Church at 7:00 am. Luke set the time for 7:00 am to avoid a large crowd during the ceremony, but the church was full beyond capacity for the ceremony. He sold insurance for Carolina Life for years, accepted a job at the Augusta Arsenal where he was able to walk to work each day and then later accepted a job at Fort Gordon where he retired in 1984. Luke began buying property to rent to VA Hospital Vets in the early 50’s and continued managing these properties up till the age of 87. He was a Mason and enjoyed quail hunting and fishing. His favorite thing to do was get together with all the family to cook hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill.

Mr. Parrish was a member of Curtis Baptist Church for 65 years or more where he taught Sunday school for 40 years. The same class was named after Mr. Parrish for his loyalty and deep dedication of teaching the word of God to its members.

Luke was born on April 10, 1917 in Olar, S .C. to the late Mr. Clarence Parrish and Mrs. Elizabeth Kennedy Parrish of Olar, S.C. Luke was a loving, caring and devoted husband for 66 years to the late Margaret Jones Parrish of Augusta, GA.

Other than his wife and parents, Luke was also preceded in death by his younger brother, Lawrence Parrish of Jacksonville, FL and his younger sister, Elizabeth Gillum of Florence, SC.

He is survived by his older brother, Winburn Parrish of Jacksonville, FL, younger brother Jack Parrish of Erhart, SC and a younger sisters, Olive Bloomer of Denmark, SC and Peggy Ubanks of Hilda, SC, 2 children, Judith Cheeseborough of Jasper, GA, Lewis (Kenny) Parrish, Jr. of Martinez, 4 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren , 8 step great grandchildren. Deep gratitude to Joann Blackwell, for her many years of service as caregiver and family friend. Thank You also to his wonderful nurses Janice, Maria, O’Kema, Mary and Bonnie.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm this evening Thursday, December 16, 2010 at Platt’s Crawford Avenue.

Pallbearers will be Abbie Prince, Lynn Flanagan, DMD, Terry Patterson, Curtis Chaplin, Leon Barton and George Hawkins. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Adult V Men’s Bible Class at Curtis Baptist Church.

For those desiring, memorials may be made to Curtis Baptist Church, 1326 Broad Street, Augusta, GA 30901.