Parrish, Don

Don Parrish, pastor of First Baptist Church, Harpersville, for nearly a decade, died Dec. 30, 2006. He was 53.

Parrish, who received a liver transplant 12 years ago, was UAB Hospital’s longest-living recipient of a liver transplant, according to Hugh Richardson, director of missions for Shelby Baptist Association. However, UAB Hospital confirmed that its two longest living liver transplant survivors had their surgeries more than 17 years ago in 1989.

In the years following his transplant, Parrish earned a master of divinity from Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham in 1997 and a doctorate in theology from Andersonville Theological Seminary in Camilla, Ga. He became pastor of First, Harpersville, in January 1997 — his only pastorate.

"He got 12 years that he wasn’t supposed to have, and in that time, he finished his degrees, became a pastor and touched a lot of lives," Richardson said.

During Parrish’s time as pastor, he served as a chaplain of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, doing monthly ride-alongs with the officers.

Parrish was also one of five pastors in Shelby Association instrumental in leading their congregations to plant Clearwater Community Church, Birmingham. First, Harpersville, sponsored it financially and Parrish served on the oversight committee for Clearwater, Richardson said.

"He was a faithful, Kingdom-minded pastor. He’s had a desire to see his church transformed. He was supportive of the association, and his heart was in seeing the Kingdom grow," Richardson said. "I’m sorry he’s gone."

Parrish is survived by Patti, his wife of 31 years, and sons Daniel and David.(TAB)