Phield Parish, III passed away on July 3, 2025, at an assisted living facility in Southaven. Funeral services were held on July 12, 2025, at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church at 11 am.
Phield Parish, III was born December 7, 1937, to Field Parish Jr and Annie Bell Parish in Lake Village, Arkansas. When he was 3 years old the family moved to Greenville. Phield started out attending school at Sacred Heart and later went to Coleman High School. He was a member of the 1956 Coleman High School Class. After graduating High School, he went on to attend Mississippi Valley State University, where he received a degree in English in 1960. He later attained a Master of Education from Delta State College, now Delta State University.
Phield Parish III committed himself to the Lord at the age of 12. He was a member of St. John Baptist Church until he joined Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in 1983 and remained there for the last 42 years. While at Pilgrim Rest, he became a beloved Sunday School Teacher. He believed that faith could bring everyone together. If we believe in the same God and we serve the same God, we should be able to do it together. Phield was a Co-Chairman of Mission Mississippi, which champions bringing the faith-based community together. He enjoyed meeting with other leaders of the local faith community to give reverence to our Lord.
After receiving his college degree, he started his professional career as an English Teacher at Coleman High School in 1961. He was later a School Counselor before leaving the school system in 1970. He went on to become a sales representative for New York Life Insurance before becoming a Real Estate agent in 1986 under Lila Lee McRight Realty. He would later become a Real Estate Broker and eventually open his own Real Estate office, Parish Real Estate. During his professional career, he was also a brick layer and was the Owner of a Service Station for 5 years on the corner of Hwy 1 and Alexander Street.
Phield was extremely active in many organizations in the local community. He was proud to call Greenville his home and was active in making it a better place to live. He served as President of the Greenville Port Commission, President of the Rotary Club, President of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, and President of the Greenville Board of Realtors. He was a member of the Mississippi Levee Board and the Board of Directors for Trustmark National Bank, among many other organizations.
Phield was preceded in death by his parents, Field and Annie Bell Parish, brothers Jack and Eddie Parish, and his sister Rosalind Braxton. His memory and love will be forever cherished by his loving wife of 52 years, Hester Thigpen Parish, two sons, Phield Parish, IV(Veronica) of Southaven, and Craig Parish (Cammie) of Missouri City, TX, one granddaughter, Veronese Parish, two grandsons, Phield Peyton Parish, V, and Carson Parish. He is survived by five sisters, Shirley Ganison, Rubye Barber (Robert), Jean Singleton (Leroy), Marva Robinson, Debra Gause (Vernon), and two brothers, Stanley Parish (Iris) and Montrose Parish (Judy), as well as a host of loving nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends.
