for your support during this time of bereavement.
The Family
ORDER OF SERVICE
Officiating
Captain Andrew Parris & Minister Albert Parris
Opening Sentences
Captain Andrew Parris and Minister Albert Parris (VPCOG)
Tribute in Song: “What A Day That Will Be”
Reverend Sophia Parris (VPCOG)
Welcome
Reverend Sophia Parris
General Prayer
Dr. Roslyn White
Song: Through All the Changing Scenes of Live Congregation
1st Scripture Reading: Psalm 18:1-13
Monica Parris
A Musical Tribute: Marimba Recording of Rain Dance
Timothy White
Tribute in Song: Ave Verum Corpus Alphia Parris
2nd Scripture Reading: Psalm 37: 1-11
Alphia Parris
Song: Psalm 23 (Crimmond)
A Tribute: To My Grandmother
Timothy White
Song: And Can It Be Congregation
HER STORY
In Loving Memory of Joan McIvor Parris
1938 – 2025
Joan McIvor Parris, 86, formerly of St. Michael, Barbados, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on May 26, 2025, in Stoughton, MA.
Joan was born on July 16, 1938, to Louise Parris and Fredrick Linton in Harts Gap, St. Michael, Barbados. She was the youngest of three siblings and was preceded in death by her sister, Onita Rovena Knight (May), Barbados. Before immigrating to Boston, USA in 1986, she worked in the hospitality industry for local hotels and private homes. In Boston, MA, she worked at The Goddard House Nursing Home until 1995 when an on job injury caused her to retire. She filled her retired days watching her grandchildren grow, and enjoyed visiting local organizations to play bingo.
Joan is survived by her sister Eudease Chlorina Hinkson nee Parris, of New York, USA, formerly of Rockley Christ Church, Barbados.
She was a devoted mother to her nine children: Dean Ricardo Parris, Barbara Maria Parris then Downie, Anderson McDonald Parris, all of Florida USA, Alphia Patricia Parris of Boston, MA USA, Captain Andrew DaCosta Parris USA Military Veteran of Muskogee, OK USA, Albert O'Brien Parris (Sophia Parris) of Barbados, Dr. Roslyn L. White, Ph.D. nee Parris (Nathaniel White) of Omaha, NE USA, Cheryl Lavonda Riley nee Parris (Brian Riley) of Bridgewater, MA USA, and Mischa McIvor Parris, M.S. of Stoughton, MA USA.
Grandmother of Ja'net Henry, Evans Downie, Dana Robinson, Steven Downs, Donna Amanda McManus, Anderson McDonald Parris II, Alexandria Parris, April Parris, Alyssa Parris, Quinlan Parris, Thomas White, Timothy White, Michael Harris, Brittney Riley, Brianna Riley, and Shanell Stewart nee Parris.
Great Grandmother
Aunt of Margaret Carrington, Ricardo Parris, Rosemary Knight, Sonia Knight, all of Barbados, Leeza Newill nee Knight of the UK, Monica Parris, Henderson Parris, Marilyn Parris, Rohan Parris, and Sharon Parris Hall, all of New York, USA.
Cousin of Maudrey Parris (Perry) of Barbados, Phyllis Cave nee Cox of Texas, USA, and many others.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
PSALMS 18
18 I will love You, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.
4 The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ]ungodliness made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.
7 Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry. 8 Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down With darkness under His feet.
10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters And thick clouds of the skies. 12 From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire. 13 The Lord thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire.
A Musical Tribute: Saxophone Solo: Be Still My Soul
Thomas White
A Poem: A Journey Just Began Quinlan Parris
Song: Ye Holy Angels Bright Congregation
Eulogy & Exhortation
Minister Albert Parris
Special Prayer for the Family
Reverend Sophia Parris
Song: The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended Congregation
The Committal / Doxology
Captain Andrew Parris
Benediction / Song: Bridge Over Troubled Waters
PSALMS 37
37 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret it only causes harm. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
REPAST
The Parris Family would like to invite you to join them for fellowship at 607 High Street, Bridgewater MA 02324 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
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