Leon Junior Parrish

“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Leon Junior Parrish, 83, of Madison Heights, VA passed away peacefully on November 20, 2024 surrounded by family at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital. Leon was the husband of Alice (Penny) Parrish for 63 years.

Leon was born on November 29, 1940 in Amherst County to the late Willie Parrish and Lottie Hamlet Parrish. He graduated from Central High School and attended Virginia State College in Petersburg, VA. Leon was employed by ITW Paktron here in Lynchburg, VA as well as with ITW Paktron in Northern, VA.

Leon accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and was a faithful servant and lifetime member of the Rose Chapel Baptist Church in Madison Heights, Virginia. He served as chairman of the deacon board, church treasurer, as well as a committed member of the board of trustees for several years where he diligently advanced the business affairs of the church. Leon studied the Bible and loved to teach the word of God and proclaim his love of God in every corner. He regularly taught Sunday school and Bible study up until the time he was unable to attend church services.

Leon loved his community and spent countless hours serving on boards and civic organizations. He was a member of the Amherst County Board of Supervisors (January 1994- December 2001) where he served as chairman for a part of his tenure. Leon was an active member of the Amherst Branch NAACP (Silver member since 2013) where he briefly served as president and as vice president. As a member of the 23rd Masonic District, Leon was blessed to receive the Lukengus Cary Award in December 2010. Leon was a Faithful Service Member of Horizon Behavioral Health between 2010 and 2012 and served on board of directors for the Central Virgina Community Services (Chair January 1998-December 1999).

Beyond the professional career and public service, Leon had a real passion for helping people and a real love for the outdoors. Leon never hesitated to help family, friends and strangers by assisting financially and otherwise to the best of his ability. This passion was displayed through his many years of service with Habitat for Humanity as he loved to see families own their own home and begin to build a stable financial life. He was an avid hunter (deer, rabbit, coon-most of which ended up on the dinner table) and enjoyed fishing locally and on the coast. Even as his health began to decline, Leon continued his passion of spending countless hours outdoors building sheds, repairing motors, cutting wood, and solving problems that most solve by going to the “yellow pages” or Youtube. 

Leon was also preceded in death by his beloved son Adrian “Dutt’ Parrish (Stacey), brothers Reuben, William, Thomas, John, Willie and Jessye; sisters, Sallie, Helen, Hattie, Margaret, Florence, and Lucy. He is survived by his faithful and loving wife Alice (Penny) Parrish, and son Gino Parrish (Joyce) of Madison Heights, VA; daughter Leondra Parrish, Lynchburg, VA; sisters, Annie Harvey, Framingham, MA and Clarene Lewis, Madison Heights, VA; sister-in-laws Ruby Parrish (Jessye), Patricia Bolling, Madison Heights, VA., and Hester "Pettie" Patterson, Bethesda, Maryland. Grandkids; Avery Parrish, Lynchburg, VA: Donyae Parrish, Lynchburg, VA, Dontel Parrish, Wilmington, NC, Aneesa Parrish, Williamsburg, VA; great grandkids Jahmere Parrish, Kahmera Parrish, Avery Parrish, Jr, and Kaleal Parrish all of Lynchburg, VA and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Acknowledgements

The family of the late Leon J Parrish wishes to express their sincere gratitude for all acts of kindness shown during this difficult time. Special thanks to staff at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital and the Amherst County Rescue Squad.

 A Funeral service will be at 12 P.M. on Monday, November 25, 2024, at Rose Chapel Baptist Church located at 208 Colony Road Madison Heights, Virginia 24572. View will be one hour prior to service.

Mr. Parrish will lie in repose on Saturday, November 23, 2024, from 10:00 am- 4:00 pm., also on Sunday November 24, 2024, from 1:00pm-6:00 pm at Tharp Funeral Home, Madison Heights. 

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Madison Heights, is assisting the family.