Bill R. Parham
August 2, 1938 ~ October 7, 2022
Born in:
Haywood Co., NC
Resided in:
Leicester, NC
Bill R. Parham, 84, died on Friday, October 7, 2022.
A native of Haywood Co., Bill was a son of the late Northern and Nellie West Parham. He was also preceded in death by his son, Clifford Parham; sisters, Penny and Gracie; and brothers, Tommy and Jimmy.
He is survived by his wife, Ruby Ann Presnell Parham, daughters, Darlene Parham and Amanda Parham; son, Ray Parham; grandchildren, Matthew and Jonathon Parham, Kasey Buckner, and Bodie and Chase Steppleton; and 12 great-grandchildren.
The graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 10, 2022, at Grace United Methodist Church Cemetery. The Rev. Dean Rice will officiate.
Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family.
Services
Graveside Service: October 10, 2022 11:00 am
Grace United Methodist Church Cemetery
876 Newfound Road
Leicester, NC 28748
Funeral Home Assisting The Family:
Groce Funeral Home - Patton Ave.
1401 Patton Ave.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828)252-3535
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
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I am so sorry for your loss. I’m 🙏 for your family.
I am so saddened to hear that he is no longer among us. There is so much I will miss about him! I knew Billy nearly half my life. I remember when I first moved into this valley we shared, how his sweet dog Smokey would follow him out along the road when he went to work and wait for him to follow him back home when he returned. And how when ol Smokey got old, and started to lose his sight, would wander over into my yard. Smokey passed away after a good long life but it made Billy so sad to lose his friend.
Sometimes I would hear Billy play his guitar on his porch down the holler and I could faintly hear him singing. It brought me a great deal of joy to hear him. Once, he came and played a bit for me. I am so sad I never got hear him play at the Depot in Marshall, it was one thing I always wanted to do, I know he loved going to play with his friends.
Billy would often bring me the most beautiful things from his garden… he grew the most beautiful, biggest tomatoes, sweetest corn, perfect little okra that he picked when they were only as big as a thumb, my favorite size, and peppers, cabbage, and his beloved green onions. He was always sure to tell me his garden was never sprayed or nuthin.
He’d pop over unannounced on the regular, sometimes when I had a million things to do, but would always make him a cup of coffee and listen to his stories. Usually he’d come in one of his big beautiful Jeeps that were his pride and joy, I could hear him roar up the drive with those big V8s.
I remember the day he had to move his home he and his family had lived in in this valley for half his life, and I watched as the truck towed it down the long driveway away and I cried, it was heartbreaking. He ended up just a valley over, and still he was my neighbor, but not as close as I liked to have him.
A couple years back he brought over a wild lily he dug up in the woods, a Carolina Lily, that has unfurled its perfect blossom or two right around his birthday. I will, for as long as I am alive, await those precious blooms to celebrate the life of my dear friend, Billy Parham.