Katherine Brenda Parris

Katherine Brenda Parris, 85, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 16, 2024 surrounded by her loving family. She was born April 27, 1939 in Spartanburg County, SC. She was one of five children to parents Leonard and Oleen Holland.

She was preceded in death by her high school sweetheart and husband of 58 years, Legrand Richard Parris, Sr.  She is also preceded in death by her siblings Walter (Bud) Leonard Holland, Jr, Alice Athey, and John (Denny) Holland. She is survived by her sister Judy (Ronnie) Holland Prophet of Lake Wylie, SC, her brother in-law Alvin (Helen) Parris of Sharon SC and her five children Lynn (Randy) Sweatt, Denise (Jack) Gillespie, Kate (Keith) Johnson all of Rock Hill, SC, Richard (Chad) Parris of Mint Hill, NC, Jonathan (Shannon) Parris of Union, SC. She also had twelve grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from MUSC and began her career as a Registered Nurse working for various hospital ER and operating rooms and later obtained her Nursing Home Administrators License where she worked at various long term care facilities throughout North and South Carolina. She loved working in long term care so much that she continued working as interim administrator at multiple facilities well into her early to mid 70’s. Nursing was truly her calling and she touched so many lives throughout her career.

Family was most important and she was lovingly referred to as “Maw-Maw” by virtually everyone, including the neighbors, friends, and families who grew up with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The door was always open for Sunday dinners, and if you ever joined…you became part of her family. She worked tirelessly for many years to plan and coordinate family reunions to reunite the aunts, uncles, cousins together. She always wanted to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or any other special days in everyone’s life as these were opportunities to bring family together. She loved her brothers and sisters immensely and had a special bond with each of them.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where she has served as Seminary teacher, Primary school teacher, Choral Director, Relief Society President. Most recently, she served for many years as the Family History Director where she helped members, as well as non-members, learn to research their family ancestry.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 1130 East Alexander Love Hwy, York, SC at 10AM with services following at 11AM. Internment services will be held immediately following at Rock Hill Memorial Gardens, Heckle Blvd Rock Hill.

Flowers may be sent via Bass Cauthen. In lieu of flowers, donations may also be made to the Missionary Fund through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints , York Ward, 1130 East Alexander Lover Hwy, York, SC 29745-9701.