Obituary of Alice Helms Parrish

Mrs. Alice Helms Parrish passed away Tuesday, January 24, 2012. She was 75 years old. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Friday, January 27, 2012 from Ozark Baptist Church with Reverend Dr. Steve King, Reverend Greg Aman, and Reverend Sonny Moore officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. Visitation will be held Thursday evening in the funeral home parlors from 5:00 P. M. until 7:00 P.M. Alice was born May 21, 1936, the daughter of the late W. Ray and Edna Tew Helms. She graduated as an honor student from Abbeville High School in 1953. She attended then Troy State University for two years and transferred to Auburn University where she graduated in 1957 with a B. S. Degree in Home Economics Education. In 1975 she completed her Masters of Education Administration Degree from the University of Montevallo. She did additional work toward her Associate of Arts Degree in 1986 at Auburn University. She began her teaching career at Midland City High School in 1957 and transferred to Carroll High School in 1964 where she taught Home Economics and Marketing, retiring as Vocational Director in 1994. Her professional career included many honors: Kapa Delta Pi, "Teacher of The Year", Alpha Delta Kappa, Vocational Directors Board, with many positions of leadership in all organizations. She loved and served her church as long as she was physically able. She taught Youth Sunday School, sang in the choir, served on many, many committees, including the Chairman of the Nominating Committee and Chairman of The Preschool Committee. She directed many activities such as weddings in many churches for 34 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edna and W. Ray Helms; her daughter, Susan Parrish Betts; and her brother, Ray Helms, Jr. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, John Tillman Parrish of Ozark; one brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Mike Helms and his wife Di of Columbus, Georgia;her loving grandson, Robert (Bobby) Betts of Ozark;her loving granddaughter, Elizabeth Lynn (Beth) Betts of Wilmington, North Carolina;her beloved sister-in-law, Ann Helms of Montevallo, Alabama; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bobby Joe and Dot Parrish of Ozark.Many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive. Service Information