Joseph E. Parrish Scholarship awarded to Irene Smith

Irene Smith, a student in the Early Childhood Education Program at Beaufort County Community College, was awarded a scholarship to attend the college this fall awarded from a

Irene Smith

fund established in memory of a man killed in an airplane crash.

Smith, 33, of Washington, is a graduate of Washington High School and is employed by the Beaufort County Public Schools. The daughter of Lela Tillery and the late Wiley Tillery, Smith and her husband, Archie, have two children. After graduating from BCCC, Smith plans to work as a teacher assistant at Eastern Elementary School.

“I want to thank the donors of this scholarship from the bottom of my heart,” she said. “May God continue to bless you as you bless others.”

The endowment was established by the family of Joseph Edward Parrish, known as Jody. Parrish, the son of Margaret P. Holder and Joe Parrish, died as a result of injuries suffered in an airplane accident in Smithfield just one month after he turned 21 years of age. His family established the endowment to continue the example of his life by helping others realize their hopes for a better life through higher education.