Melvin Parrish was born on June 23, 1894, in Jasper, Florida. Before enlisting in the U.S. Army during World War I, he worked as a laborer for the Minerva Naval Store. He entered service at Camp Johnson but was declared a deserter on October 29, 1917, according to a military notice published at the time. Despite this designation, records indicate that he was officially discharged on December 19, 1918. Following his military service, Melvin settled in South Miami, Florida, where he lived until his death on September 16, 1939, at the age of 46. He was buried in Silver Green Cemetery in Goulds, a historic African American cemetery in southern Miami-Dade County.
Melvin was married to Mattie Lou Parrish Griffin, who was born around 1910 in Florida and was recorded as white in the 1945 Florida State Census, six years after Melvin’s death. Together, they had a son, Clarence Parrish, born on February 4, 1930, in Gainesville, Florida. Clarence would go on to live a life of service, receiving a certificate of commendation for assisting law enforcement during racial disturbances in Fort Pierce. He passed away on June 30, 1994, and was buried at Boynton Beach Memorial Park and Mausoleum.
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Category |
Details |
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Full Name |
Melvin Parrish |
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Birth |
June 23, 1894 – Jasper, Florida |
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Death |
September 16, 1939 – South Miami, Dade County, Florida |
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Burial |
Silver Green Cemetery, Goulds, Miami-Dade County, Florida |
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Military Service |
U.S. Army, Camp Johnson, Private, Service No. 2,909,455 |
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Military Note |
Declared deserter on October 29, 1917; discharged December 19, 1918 |
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Pre-war Occupation |
Laborer at Minerva Naval Store |
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Spouse |
Mattie Lou Parrish Griffin (b. ~1910, FL; listed as white in 1945 census) |
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Child |
Clarence Parrish (1930–1994), honored for civic bravery |
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Son’s Burial |
Boynton Beach Memorial Park and Mausoleum |
