Heaven gained a beautiful angel this week. Virginia Stonecipher Parrish, age 75, of Shelbyville, passed from this life on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at home and surrounded by her family.
Born April 19, 1947 in Cookeville, Virginia was the only daughter of the late Walter Doak and Pearl Bilyeu Stonecipher, who were teachers in Bedford County for many years. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved horse loving husband, Dan Parrish, also known by many as “Dan The Spoonman.”
Virginia was a graduate of SCHS class of 1965, where she was voted “Lady of Beauty” by her classmates. She worked for Calsonic until retiring in 1999, in order to care for her ailing mother. She made many friends at Calsonic and remained very close with them throughout her life. She was an extremely talented artist, using various mediums. She was recently featured at The Fly Arts Center with an exhibit in June 2022. She volunteered at Liberty School from time to time as a teacher’s aidee. She battled cancer off and on for many years, which led to her passion for Relay for Life and the Bedford Cancer Foundation.
As the saying “Virginia is for Lovers” goes, it was certainly true with our Virginia. She was the epitome of love. She loved hard and she loved fiercely. She loved her family. She loved her friends as well as her children’s friends. Many of her children’s friends considered her their “second mom” and they lovingly called her “V.” She loved her grandchildren and they loved their “Gran.” She loved her animals. Most of all, she loved to laugh! Her children and grandchildren now carry on that legacy. Up until her last breath, she was still in the mood for a good laugh or to make those around her laugh.
She is survived by her three children: Cort (Angi) Huffman, Christy (Jeff) Gardner, and Mandy (Jeff) Cooper; her seven grandchildren, Gage and Zoe Huffman, Jake, Sydney and Luke Gardner, and Sam and Walt Cooper; and her spoiled rotten cat, Festus.
Funeral services for Virginia will be held 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 22, 2022, in the chapel of Doak-Howell Funeral Home with Pastor Jeff “Herman” Haynes officiating.
Visitation with the family will be held prior to service, beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. If in attendance, be prepared to laugh through your tears. She wouldn’t have it any other way.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Bedford Cancer Foundation at www.bedfordcancerfoundation.org by mail: PO Box 1523, Shelbyville, TN 37162, or to The Fly Arts Center by mail: 204 S. Main St. Shelbyville, TN 37160.
Doak-Howell Funeral Home is serving the family.
www.doakhowellfuneralhome.com
