There are people around the globe who are sad to be saying good-bye to Tommie Parrish. They are also rejoicing for her, knowing she has taken her final journey to meet her Lord and is reunited with her beloved husband, Milton. Tommie, 82, was born December 5, 1926 and died May 20, 2009. She was born in Durant, Oklahoma to loving parents, Thomas Earl Johnson and Allie Lee (Tate) Johnson. Tommie met her husband, Milton B. Parrish, as a sophomore at Southern Nazarene University. Milton had just returned from World War II. They sat beside each other in English class and it was love at first sight. They were married their junior year, graduated together in 1948 and were the first husband and wife team to both receive the Good Citizen Awards for outstanding achievement in loyalty, service, leadership and scholarship. They served together in ministry until 1990 living in Missouri, Kansas, Texas, and Maryland before moving to Johannesburg, South Africa as District Superintendent of Nazarene Churches in seven nations. After seven years abroad, they returned to Kansas City where they served for 19 years. In 2001 they retired and returned to Bethany, Oklahoma just blocks away from the place they first met, to be closer to their daughter Debbie. Milton died in 2006. Tommie excelled academically. She graduated high school at age 15, was elected into Whos Who in America at age 19 and graduated college Phi Lambda Delta. She could persuasively debate both sides of any issue and taught literature and public speaking in South Africa. Tommie was a 30 year cancer survivor who valiantly fought the disease three times. She counseled with people around the world who had been diagnosed with similar cancers. She prayed with them and offered hope and inspiration. Tommie found the fascination in each new day. She lived a wonderful life of fulfillment, adventure and joy. She knew how to create beauty, live graciously, and enhance the world of those around her. She was a fiercely loyal and loving wife, mother and friend. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Clark and her husband Gary of Oklahoma City; her brother, Paul Johnson of Commerce, Texas; and her sister, Linda Johnson of Noble, Oklahoma. Memorials may be made to the Milton B. and Tommie E. Parrish Memorial Religion Scholarship at Southern Nazarene University, 6729 N.W. 39th Expressway, Bethany, Oklahoma 73008.