Reverend Robert Parrish was born in Bryson City, North Carolina, a small town located 59 miles southwest of Asheville. At the age of six he was placed in the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh. As a student, he led many religious activities for his fellow students, became president of the student government, and graduated second in his class. Upon graduation, Robert enrolled at Appalachian State University where he received a BS in Speech Communications, with a minor in psychology. From there he entered Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he received his Masters of Divinity degree. As an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, Rev. Parrish has ministered to various churches across the community. He also was at one time the pastor of Love Wins Ministries, which serves the needs of the homeless population. As he is greatly invested in the Governor Morehead School, Rev. Parrish would, later in his life, return to the Governor Morehead School, working as a trainer and life skills teacher. Over the years, Rev. Parrish has served as president of the Wake Federation of the Blind, a chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, and served on the Governor Morehead School Alumni Association, where he has been its vice president, and currently serves as its legislative chair. For the past two and a half years, Rev. Parrish has been a part of Arts Access, an organization which strives to make the arts accessible to disabled persons, and is president-elect of its board. Rev. Parrish is also a member of the Mayor’s Committee on Disabilities of Raleigh. In this role he serves as chair of the housing subcommittee.
Rev. Parrish loves sports, old time radio drama, and reading. He also composes music, and loves playing his guitar Eloise. He is pleased to continue his support of the Governor Morehead School by serving on our foundation board.