Jacquelin "Jackie" Parish

" . . . a woman who fears the Lord she shall be praised." Prov. 31:30 Jacquelin "Jackie" Parish was born on February 7, 1930, in West Palm Beach, Florida, the daughter of John and Helen (Gates) Gross. She was born again of the Spirit of God at the age of 12 while attending the Pentecostal Church of God in Dexter, Michigan, where she subsequently received the Acts 2:4 experience evidenced by "speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance." From that day to this, she referred to that glorious experience as "the precious sweet Holy Ghost." She graduated from high school in Dexter, Michigan in 1948. On August 6, 1949, Jackie married Durand Vernon Parish. They were married for fifty-four years until her husband's passing on March 25, 2003. Jackie was a devoted pastor's wife, a music leader, youth teacher, and church pianist. Although she had just a high school education, she distinguished herself as a highly skilled secretary for the University Of Michigan Museum Of Natural History, and for a time was the secretary for the Ladies Auxiliary for the Michigan District Pentecostal Church of God. In the 1950s, she and her husband were the Youth Directors of over 60 churches in the Michigan District and retained that position for several years. She assisted her husband in pastorates at the South Woodbridge Pentecostal Church in Camden, Michigan, at the Packard Road Pentecostal Church of God in Ypsilanti, Michigan and at Calvary Tabernacle in Checotah, Oklahoma. In 1978, she and her husband moved to Checotah to take an active role in the raising of their grandchildren and pioneer another church. Shortly after her husband passed away in 2003, she moved to Eufaula where she became an active member of the Lighthouse Christian Center. Sister Perlie Mobley gave her the unofficial title of "church mother," but most of the congregation simply referred to her as "Grandmom." She was an employee of Walmart in Checotah for many years where she endeared herself to townspeople and fellow employees. Upon retirement, Sister Parish ministered at the Eufaula Manor until the pandemic shut down the services. Second only to her service and worship of the Lord Jesus, her greatest delight was spending time with her family and loved ones, and she loved a lot of folks. She was a distinguished warrior in prayer, a bold witness of The Lord's saving power, and a sterling example of a dedicated believer. After a period of declining health, early Monday morning she answered the Lord's call to come up higher, and is today "absent from the body and present with the Lord." She leaves behind her two sons: John Parish and wife Rhea of Eufaula, David Parish and wife Lois of Eufaula, her three grandchildren, Jonathan Parish and wife Kelly, Andy Parish and wife Carrie, and her only granddaughter, Joanna Parish all of Eufaula. Her great grandchildren are Morgan, Luke, Alex, Jacob, Keaton, and Finleigh. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Durand Parish, a brother, Roy Gross, and a sister Dorris Derowski. "Well done, good and faithful servant . . . enter thou into the joys of thy Lord."