Merlee Roberson Parraway

October 3, 1928 ~ December 7, 2023
Born in:
New Rochelle, NY
Resided in:
Pinehurst, NC
Merlee Catherine Roberson was born to the late James Arthur Roberson and Merlee Catherine Roberson on October 3, 1928, in New Rochelle, NY. She was the 4th of 7 children. She attended public schools in New Rochelle, NY and Farmville, VA. In 1946 she married Ralph Parraway and the two of them began life together. To their union were born five children; four of whom survived to adulthood. Soon after marriage, Merlee began working as a nursing assistant and continued to do so for more than 30 years, at New Rochelle Hospital, Park City Hospital in Bridgeport, CT and Elliot Hospital in Manchester, NH. Always a people person, she enjoyed talking with children and adults. In addition to working as a nursing assistant, she also worked as a school bus driver for several years in Norwalk, CT, where she later became a secretary in the office at Marvin School. It was, however, while living in New Hampshire that she began a whole new career, taking care of newborn babies, for folks in the Boston, MA area. She did so for more than 20 years; oftentimes caring for successive newborns in the same families. She loved teaching new mothers how to care for their children. One of the perks of that job was getting to travel internationally with her employers, when they went on family vacations. She traveled to Europe several times and enjoyed each trip immensely.
Her faith was important to her and as a teenager she was baptized in the New Rochelle Seventh-Day Adventist Church. She was for decades a strong, faithful alto in the choir. She also served in the children’s department for a time and later as MV (now AYS) Leader, which she greatly enjoyed. She and Ralph were active there until moving to New Hampshire, with their two youngest children, in 1970. The local church in Manchester didn’t have a choir, so she frequently sang duets with her younger son and sometimes with her husband. As time went on, she was asked to sing solos for church; she readily did so. In the early 1990’s, Merlee and Ralph moved to Pinehurst, NC to get away from the cold and snow of New England winters and to be close to her younger brother, Wendell and his wife ‘Tiz’. They were active members at the Southern Pines SDA Church, before transferring to the Pittsboro SDA Church and were part of the core group, who were involved in the branch sabbath school and later church plant in the local area.
Merlee, Ralph and their children, especially the youngest two, loved to travel; making vacation road trips to about 40 of the contiguous states and a few of the eastern Canadian provinces. Ralph and Merlee also visited Hawaii and longtime friends in Bermuda and their older daughter and family in Alaska. She often said she “had a good life” and that she wanted “to go to heaven one day.” In the early morning hours of December 7th, she disembarked her earthly journey – having reached her destination, with her loved ones thankful for her long life and praying that heaven is her final home.
She was predeceased by her husband of 74 years, a daughter – Denise, her parents, sisters Laura, Lucille, Thelma and Esther, brothers James and Wendell and all of their spouses.
She leaves with memories of laughter and pleasant times, her children, Ralph, Sandra, Nelson and Cheryl, 13 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, sister in-law Elsie Lyles, dozens of nieces and nephews and a host of church family and friends.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 22, 2023 at Fry & Prickett Funeral Home. A viewing will be held prior to the service starting at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park. The family will have a repass at Southern Pines Civic Club following the service.
Services entrusted to Fry & Prickett Funeral Home.
Condolences may be made at PinesFunerals.com.
Services
Public Viewing: December 22, 2023 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Fry & Prickett Funeral Home
402 Saunders Street
Carthage, NC 28327
910.947.2224
https://pinesfunerals.com/
Funeral Service: December 22, 2023 11:00 am
Fry & Prickett Funeral Home
402 Saunders Street
Carthage, NC 28327
910.947.2224
https://pinesfunerals.com/
Committal : December 22, 2023 12:30 pm
Pinelawn Memorial Park
1105 Morganton Road
Southern Pines, NC 28387
910.692.6801
https://www.PinelawnMemorial.com
Repass: December 22, 2023 1:00 pm
Southern Pines Civic Club
105 South Ashe St.
Southern Pines, NC 28387
(910) 691-9682
https://www.southernpinescivicclub.org
Ralph ( a very kind hearted soul) and Merlee were two very special people . I can still hear Ralph playing hymns on his harmonica. I’m sure there are many that are very thankful God let them cross our paths.
Hello Cousins.. I’m very sorry for the loss of ior mom
Aunt Merlee..
Sincerely
Rest in peace Aunt Merlee. To the immediate family, may you find comfort and peace in the love of God. His promises are sure and will see you through. Our sincere condolences to you all❤️
The Walker Family
Sincerely
Love & hugs, Cousin Kathy Briscoe