Our Staff

Robert Elton Parrish

Owner (In Memoriam)

Robert Elton Parrish was born in Johnston County on March 13, 1928 to parents Robert Ennis Parrish and Viola Sasser Parrish. He attended Princeton and Nahunta High Schools. After graduating he served in the US Marine Corps in 1946 and 1947. Upon Elton's return he attended Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science and graduated in 1951. During his time here, he was married to Geraldine Hartley on April 13, 1950. Throughout the years, Elton has been involved with many organizations such as the Selma Lions Club and served 20 years with the Selma Fire Department. He is currently serving the Selma Housing Authority, the Board of Directors of KS Bank, and he is a member of Selma Original Free Will Baptist Church where he is a former Deacon. He was also a two term Past Master in 1964-1965 at the Selma Masonic Lodge #320.

Geraldine H. Parrish

Owner (In Memorium)

Geraldine Hartley Parrish was born on November 4, 1929 to father William Arthur Hartley and mother Annie Belle Rose. She attended and graduated from Princeton High School in 1948 and then attended King's Business School in Raleigh, NC. Geraldine worked at radio stations WGBR in Goldsboro, NC, WKDA in Nashville, TN, and WMPM in Smithfield, NC. In 1964, she went into the funeral business with her husband, Elton, as a bookkeeper and office manager. She and Elton have three children, Robert, Mike, and Susan, all of whom are in the funeral business. Geraldine passed away on February 10, 2018.

Robert Ennis Parrish

Licensed Funeral Director

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. 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 is married to Shannan Lattemann Parrish and they reside in Pine Level, NC. He has two children, Kristin Sroka and her husband David, and Cherri Parrish, two step-children, Shawn Williams, Patrick Moore and his wife Sara, and three grandchildren, Elaina Sroka and Aiden Sroka and Cason Bryce Causey.

Michael E. Parrish

Licensed Funeral Director

Michael Elton Parrish, younger son of Elton and Geraldine Hartley Parrish, was born at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Smithfield. He is a lifelong resident of Selma and graduated from Smithfield-Selma Senior High School in 1975. Shortly after his graduation he joined his parents in the funeral business. On March 6, 1976 he married the former Cheryl Gagne. He received his associate in applied sciences degree from Fayetteville Technical Institute in 1977. He is also a licenses insurance agent and a licensed general contractor. Mike and Cheryl have two children Scott and his wife Erin and daughter Anna Helen; Emily Gardner and her husband Bradley and their children Emma Grace, Finley, Ethan and Emerson. Cheryl passed away on December 27, 2008 after a two and a half year battle with cancer. Mike and his family are members of the Selma Original Free Will Baptist Church. He is a member and Past-Master of Selma Masonic Lodge # 320 and a former member of the Selma Fire Department, the Selma School Advisory Board and the Selma Board of Adjustments. He is currently serving on the local advisory board for KS Bank and the Town of Selma Cemetery Committee.

Susan P. Watson

Licensed Funeral Director

Susan Parrish Watson born at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Smithfield, NC and received her early education in the Selma Schools. She was graduated from Smithfield-Selma Senior High School in 1979. She attended Meredith College for two years, and received her bachelor's degree in special education in 1984 from Appalachian State University. She is also a 1986 graduate of the mortuary science program at Fayetteville Technical Community College. On January 9, 1988 she was married to Christian E. Watson, whom she met while at Fayetteville, and they have three children, Acy, Tyson, and Bailey. She remains as active as possible in the business working around the schedules of three active children.

Christian E. Watson

Licensed Funeral Director

Christian E. Watson - Born in Wilmington, DE, his family finally settled in Kinston, NC after several moves up and down the east coast. After graduating from Kinston High School in 1979 he attended Pitt Community College and East Carolina University before transferring to Fayetteville Technical Community College where he received his associate in applied science in mortuary science in 1986. He was married to Susan Parrish on January 9, 1988, whom he met while attended Fayetteville Community College and they have three children, Acy (Allie), Tyson, and Bailey and a grandson, Atlas. Chris and his family are members of Princeton United Methodist Church. He is also a past master of the St. Patrick's Masonic Lodge # 617 in Princeton.

Megan Pollock Southerland

Licensed Funeral Director/ Pre-need Specialist

Megan Pollock Southerland was born in Wayne County, but later moved to the Smithfield area when her parents, Rev. Dennis and Abigail Pollock, began pastoring Tee’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, where she is also a member. Megan is a 2007 graduate of Princeton High School and a 2012 graduate of Fayetteville Technical Community College where she obtained her Funeral Directing Diploma and is currently pursuing her Funeral Services Degree. She married Josh Southerland in November 2012. Josh and Megan are the proud parents to Tyler Kate and Daxton Southerland. Megan has one sister, Tiffany and two nieces, Crystal and Macy.

James C. Davis

Owner/ Licensed Funeral Director

James C. Davis was born in Pitt County on October 30, 1990. James lives in Pine Level with his wife Angela and son James Christopher. James is a 2017 graduate of Fayetteville Technical Community College where he obtained his Associate's Degree in Funeral Service. James and his family are members of the Pine Level First United Methodist Church. When not working, James enjoys spending time with his family, playing guitar, fishing, and working in his yard.

Luby C. Tyner, Jr.

Funeral Assistant (In Memoriam)

Luby C. Tyner, Jr. was born in Goldsboro, NC on December 21, 1956. He has lived in Selma his whole life. He attended Smithfield Selma Senior High School and graduated in 1976. On October 21, 1979 Luby was married to Renae Evans. They have a daughter, Lindsay, her husband Jerrod and grandchildren, Silas and Kaydia. He is a longtime member of Branch Chapel Free Will Baptist Church in Selma and came to work at Parrish Funeral Home on June 1, 1994.

Sara H. Moore

Head Administrator (Parrish Location)

Sara Hales Moore was born in Wake County, but was raised in Johnston County where her parents John and Denise Hales are from. Sara is a 2010 graduate from North Johnston High School. She married her husband Patrick Moore on October 22, 2016. She loves spending time with family and her cat Maggie.

Edward "Eddie" Davis, Jr.

Licensed Funeral Director

Edward “Eddie” Davis, Jr. was born June 16, 1957 and has been a lifelong resident of Pine Level. Eddie is a graduate of North Johnston High School Class of 1975 and a Graduate of Fayetteville Technical Community College Class of 2011 in Funeral Directing. He is currently employed by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. He is also a member of the State Emergency Response Team (SERT). He has been a member of the Parrish and Underwood Funeral Homes family full time and part time since 2007. Eddie is the father of two children Brandi Hinnant married to Matt and Adam Davis married to Nikki and has six grandchildren: Ashlan, Zaida, Maverick and Emmi Lou Hinnant, Alexis and John Thomas Davis.

Jonathan B. McHatton

Owner/ Licensed Funeral Director

Jacob R. McHatton

Part Time Funeral Assistant

Deana S. McHatton

Funeral Service Apprentice

Michael White

Funeral Assistant