John Wayne Parrish Jr.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  2 Timothy 4:7

John Wayne Parrish, Jr. was born on February 27, 1947, to Johnnie May Parrish and John Wayne Parrish, Sr. in Savannah, Ga. Wayne was not only a devoted son, husband, father and grandfather but a true Renaissance man whose life was marked by service, creativity, and leadership. 

After graduating from Airport High School in 1966, Wayne attended the University of South Carolina for one year before being drafted into the Vietnam War. He served bravely as an Army “River Rat,” fighting in the jungles of Vietnam for two years, where he was exposed to Agent Orange. For his service, he received two Purple Hearts, along with numerous other honors. 

Following his military service, Wayne became a successful businessman and served as CEO of Loxcreen Co., Inc., a family business of which he was deeply proud. In his fifties, he decided to go back to school and earned a BS in Business from Southern Wesleyan University. His professional life was matched by a rich artistic spirit. Wayne was a musician who played guitar, sang, led choirs, and performed in two Southern Gospel quartets over the years. One of his greatest joys was singing in and performing with the Lexington Baptist Church Choir. 

An avid cyclist, Wayne rode locally with the Carolina Cyclers and traveled extensively, including riding across the south of France. He was actively involved in his community and served on numerous boards in the Greater Columbia area. Rotary club meetings were on the agenda for decades, and he eventually became a Paul Harris Fellow. 

Wayne is survived by his loving wife of 56 years: Karen B. Parrish; three daughters, Robyne Parrish, Allison Hill (Roger), and Lindsay Parrish; brother, T.R. Parrish (Cindy); and sisters, Linda Caughman (Hazy) and Pam Childs. He and Karen have been blessed with five grandchildren: Sydney, Roger III, Grayson, Nicholas and Jack and numerous beloved nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces. 

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Lexington Baptist Church, 308 East Maine Street, Lexington on Tuesday December 23, 2025, at 2:00pm. Visitation will be at 1pm before the service in the sanctuary. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research give.michaeljfox.org