Mary Elizabeth Carruthers Parrish, age 91, of Murfreesboro, TN, went to be with the Lord on Monday, August 8, 2016. A native of Murfreesboro, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Marie Carruthers. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Compton Parrish Sr.

She is survived by her three children, Sharon Reynolds and her husband Frank of McMinnville, TN, Debbie Lemmons and her husband Dr. Gary D. Lemmons of Fairmount, GA, and Thomas Compton Parrish Jr. and his wife Julie of Murfreesboro, TN; seven grandchildren, Charlene C. Baxley and her husband Walt of Cumming, GA, Valerie Lemmons of Birmingham, AL, Beth Delk and her husband Craig and Joseph Reynolds of McMinnville, TN, Trey Parrish and his wife Chelsea, Trent Parrish and Ryann Parrish of Murfreesboro, TN; three great-grandchildren, Walter McClain Baxley Jr. and Mary Margaret Baxley of Cumming, GA, and Rachel Elizabeth Delk of Cookeville, TN; nephews, Charles W. Carruthers of Maryville, TN, Walter S. Parrish and Glen Owen Parrish of Murfreesboro, TN; nieces, Betty J. Murman of Knoxville, TN, Carol Ann Horne of Moultrie, GA and Judy Carlton of Jacksonville, FL; and a special niece, Phyllis Reynolds of Calhoun, GA.

Mrs. Parrish attended Chrichlow Grammer School, and graduated from Murfreesboro High School in 1942 as her class secretary and a member of the National Honor Society. In her retirement years, she attended Motlow Community College.

Mrs. Parrish was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Murfreesboro and treasurer of the Ladies Evening Circle. She was a Registered Dental Assistant in the office of Dr. Charles T. Jenkins for thirty-four years.  She held a lifetime membership in the American Dental Assistants Association. Mrs. Parrish served two terms as president of the Fourth District Dental Assistants Association in 1970-1971. She was instrumental in developing training and certification programs for dental assistants at technical schools in the state of Tennessee.

A graveside service will be Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in Evergreen Cemetery. Dr. John Hinkle will officiate. Visitation will be Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Woodfin Memorial Chapel.

The Elders of First Presbyterian Church and the members of the Ladies Evening Circle will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Memorials in memory of Mrs. Parrish may be made to The First Presybterian Church of Murfreesboro, Caris Hospice, or to Meals On Wheels.