Pamela Joy Parrish, 72 of Orlando, Florida, died peacefully on July 18th, 2021 in Cornerstone Hospice House. She bravely faced Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer for over 7 years.
Pam was born and raised in Florida. As a youth, she was active in her church choir and held a national position in the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. As a Rainbow Girl, she was honored with a trip to New York for the World’s Fair, an experience that sparked her love of the city. Pam received her Bachelor’s (Distributive & Business Education) and Master’s (Guidance & Counselor Education, 1975) Degrees from the University of South Florida. She began her career in education as a distributive education teacher and high school occupational specialist (5 years). She then excelled as a school counselor in Manatee County, FL for the next 30 years where she served as the guidance department head, school testing coordinator, and master scheduler. After spending the bulk of her career leading the Lincoln Memorial Middle School (Palmetto, FL) guidance team she was entrusted to co-lead the opening of Carlos Haile Middle and Dan Nolan Middle Schools in Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, FL). She thrived in her role as a counselor and often said the middle school years were the most enjoyable to witness; she considered it a great privilege to play a role in the formative years of so many that passed through the schools in which she served. Pam retired from the state of Florida in 2006 and continued in guidance for 5 years in Hartwell, Georgia (Hart County High and Middle). In Hartwell, she met and married her late husband, Donald Meck. Pam and Don decided to move back to Florida in 2013 so they could be closer to family in the Orlando area. Their happiest days in recent years were spent at Disney World with each other and Pam’s family.
Pam’s greatest joy was raising her daughters, Miriam and Tiffany, and the pride she took in their respective educational and career accomplishments was known to many. That delight was extended to her grandchildren, and she eagerly and optimistically strived to reach milestones in their development.
Preceding Pam in death are her parents, George Quinton Morford and Mary Louise (Johnson). Her husband of over 20 years, and father to her children, Joseph Horace Parrish of Parrish, FL died in 2003. She was recently widowed by Donald Wilbur Meck (m. Dec 2010) of Lorain, OH, who passed away in April of 2021.
Pam is survived by her daughters, Miriam Parrish (Mark Mattingly) of St. Louis, MO and Tiffany Parrish (Peter Klomp) of Orlando, FL. She is also survived by 3 grandchildren: Hunter Parrish, Amelia Kelly, and Imogen Klomp and 4 step grandchildren: Caitlin, Avery, Chase, and Addison Mattingly.
Originally diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer in 2002, her cancer returned in 2013 and by 2014 Pam was diagnosed as Stage IV Metastatic. As avid advocates for metastatic breast cancer research, Pam’s family would appreciate memorial contributions to METAvivor. Please dedicate your donation in memory of Pam Parrish by visiting https://donate.metavivor.org/PamParrish
A graveside memorial will be held in Parrish, Florida at a later date.
