Susanna Celestia 'Celeste' Parrish

Notes:

She was born in 1853 in Callands, orphaned at 10, walked 2.5 miles to school, became a teacher in Callands at 15, offered the chair in mathematics at Randolph Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg in 1893, received a degree from Cornell University in New York in 1896, joined the faculty of the The University of Georgia in Athens GA in 1902, became Supervisor of State Schools in the northern 42 counties of Georgia and died in Clayton, GA in 1918.

Because of her accomplishments in public education in rural Georgia and in Atlanta, the Georgia Legislature adjourned in Atlanta and drove 100 miles to attend her funeral at Clayton Baptist Church.

The Georgia Superintendent of Schools suggested her epitaph "Georgia's Greatest Woman", which is on her grave marker.

Husband Wilson Parrish 67,1809
Born: Oct 8, 1809 - Pittsylvania Co., VA
Died: 1883 - Pittsylvania Co., VA
Marriage: Dec 20, 1830 - Pittsylvania Co., VA

Wife Matilda C. Wells
Born: Aug 23, 1812 - Pittsylvania Co., VA
Died: - Pittsylvania Co., VA
Father: Joseph Wells (1787/1789-1830)
Mother: Sarah Fuller (Bef 1788- )

Children:
1 M Joseph Madison Parrish
Born: Jun 14, 1832 - Pittsylvania Co., VA
Died: Jul 18, 1897 - Pittsylvania Co., VA

Spouse: Elizabeth Frances Unknown (1828-1890)

Spouse: Sally S. Mitchell ( - )
Marr: Feb 25, 1892 - Pittsylvania Co., VA
2 F Susanna Parrish
Born: 1836 - VA
Spouse: Thomas A. Mays ( - )
Marr: Dec 7, 1870 - Pittsylvania Co., VA
3 M Perkins Parrish
Born: 1838 - VA 23891
4 M Abraham P. "Abram" Parrish
Born: 1838 - VA

5 F Tabitha Parrish
Born: 1840 - VA
Spouse: Unknown Elliott ( - )
6 M John Wilson Parrish
Born: 1842 - VA
Spouse: Sarah A. "Sally" Murrell (1846/1847- )
Marr: Jan 7, 1868 - Pittsylvania Co., VA 67. (Divorced before Jun 22, 1880)

7 M James Parrish
Born: 1844 - VA
8 M Thomas Parrish
Born: 1847 - VA
Spouse: Rebecca Anne Wyatt (1848-1905)
Marr: Dec 7, 1870 - Pittsylvania Co., VA

9 M Matthew Allen Parrish
Born: Jun 16, 1851 - Pittsylvania Co., VA
Died: May 5, 1926 - Pittsylvania Co., VA
Spouse: Virginia Lalla "Jennie" Tarpley (1854-1912)
Marr: Feb 8, 1872 - Pittsylvania Co., VA 67,3750


Note: There are minor discrepancies in the dates on her tombstone and the dates of birth and death. Additionally, her name on her stone is shown as Celeste. -mfe