Martha Harriet Parrish (Gavin)

Martha Harriet Gavin Parrish, age 90, passed away on October 26, 2023, at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center after ongoing health issues. Martha was born August 9, 1933, in Montgomery WV to Herbert and Dorothy Knerr Gavin. Martha married John Robert Parrish of Oak Hill WV on October 31, 1951. They will celebrate their 72nd anniversary in Heaven.

Martha was a homemaker, widely known for her cooking and baking skills. She, along with John, grew an enormous garden every year with every vegetable you can imagine, enough to eat during the season and can or freeze for the winter months.

Martha won her first blue ribbon at the WV State Fair for an afghan she made last year, and a red ribbon this year for another afghan she made.

Martha was always active in church and a devout Christian. She participated in ladies' prayer groups and helped in any way she could. She along with her husband John enjoyed working at the Oak Hill Food Pantry each month for years and doing different volunteer work around the community after John retired.

Martha was a high school graduate of Fayetteville High School, where she was fondly called Mickey. Martha claimed .......always a Pirate! She went on to attend college in Virginia for a short time until the love of her life showed up and they wed in Pearisburg. They were quite the couple, always together and always known as John and Martha. In 1964 they adopted their only child, Harriet Ann. Martha didn't know until many years after, how much her own mother had a hand in this adoption, as she worked for the Department of Welfare as it was called then. She will be greatly missed by so many, but it is with comfort knowing that as I held her as she took her last breath, she was entering into the arms of the Lord, in no more pain, no more wheelchair, no more confined to bed, and with no doubt being welcomed with open arms by the love of her life, once again.
She is preceded in death by her husband John R. Parrish, mother, Dorothy K. Hesse, father Herbert K. Gavin, brother Mike Gavin and brother Blande K. Hesse.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter and son in law, Harriet Ann and John Kuhn, the son she never had but loved him so very much; grandson Ben and his wife Whitney Woodson along with her soon-to-be great grandbaby boy Woodson; and grandson Noah Woodson and his fiancé Emery. Also, her California twin Dale Gravely will miss their phone visits and her visits from Kari Davis.

Martha was a resident at Stonerise Rainelle for 3 years. We would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Stonerise Nursing Home in Rainelle who doted over mom every day and made her feel so special. They gave her their absolute best. They loved her and she absolutely loved them. She could not have been in a better facility.

Private services will be held at High Lawn Funeral Home in Oak Hill, WV on Sunday, October 29, 2023 with Pastor Skee Barley officiating.