Robert Ennis Parrish, oldest son of Elton and Geraldine Parrish, was born on December 22, 1954 in Smithfield, NC.  He graduated from Smithfield-Selma Senior High School in 1973 and then attended UNC-Chapel Hill from 1973-1978.  While he was a student there, he married Goldie Cherry of Raleigh.  He graduated with a BS in Pharmacy and worked as a pharmacist with Jack Eckerd Corporation for 20 years.  He returned to mortuary school in 1998 and received the JM Nolte award for Academic Excellence in 1999.  He has been with Parrish Funeral Homes since 1998.  Robert and Goldie have two daughters, Kristin and Cherri, and they have lived in the Raleigh area since 1987.