In Memoriam of Lehman Parrish

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Lehman Parrish

March 12, 1918 - February 6, 2010

A GOOD LIFE

John Henry Lehman Edward Parrish was born March 12, 1918 in Forrest City, Arkansas, the third child of John Parrish and Flora Dawson Parrish. His twin brothers died before the age of five and he grew up as the only living brother of his younger sister, Carmen. Lehman and Carmen bonded closely and loved each other unconditionally throughout their lives. Lehman grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ at an early age. He was taught Christian principles that helped to form his character and his heart. He would always say, “Love Everybody”!

As a young child, Lehman’s family moved to Canton, Mississippi where he grew up on a farm. Lehman was his mother’s pride and joy. He learned to drive at age seven but never learned to ride a bike.

Lehman was always a conscientious student from elementary grades through boarding school. At the age of 20, he graduated from Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi. He later migrated to Chicago where he worked in his uncle George Dawson’s store while also attending Chicago-Kent College of Law. During this time, Lehman met his future wife, Gloria Porter, who was a frequent customer at the store. He was drafted into the Army during his second year of law school. While in the Army, he and Gloria were married and were blessed with three children: Cherlyn, Darrell, and Yolanda.

Lehman Edward Parrish was honorably discharged from the Army as a First Lieutenant. He chose not to return to law school and used his relatively significant savings to initiate business ventures including a wholesale chicken business and real estate firm, while working for the Milwaukee Railroad. Real estate thrived and Lehman was one of the first African American Realtors in Chicago. He served as President and Vice President of the Dearborn Real Estate Board. Lehman, along with a few others, made it possible for African Americans to become homeowners in spite of the restrictive covenant laws that were in effect at this time.

Lehman’s passion for real estate stems from his love for people and overwhelming desire to help them. He transformed the lives of many families in Chicago by helping them own their homes. He developed four single-family homes and was one of the few realtors in Chicago engaged in developing apartments into condominiums.

In later years, the United States Army called upon Lehman to serve in other capacities. They appreciated Lehman’s intellect and his enormous patriotism; they retained his services and he continued to serve his country in the field of intelligence for many years. As a result of that service, President Richard Nixon appointed Lehman Parrish to participate as a United States ambassador in the first mission trip to China when their borders were opened to the United States during the Nixon administration.

Lehman was a passionate and ardent supporter of and participant in Amistad International and kept abreast of current affairs throughout his life. He was a delegate to a political convention in the early 1950s. Lehman enjoyed playing bridge and helping others. He was always willing to lend a helping hand; he valued and encouraged education - attributes he instilled in his children and others.

As a child, Lehman was baptized in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. He and Gloria were married in the Baptist church. Early in their marriage they converted to the United Church of Christ and joined the Church of the Good Shepherd in Chicago, IL. They were active in that church throughout their residence in Chicago. In later years, after Gloria’s death and prior to his move to Arizona, Lehman became increasingly active in the church taking a proactive role in many of its activities. He was a constant companion to the late Eva Thomas a close family friend.

Following Lehman Parrish’s gradual retirement from real estate, and a catastrophic medical event in Chicago, he moved to Tucson, Arizona near his daughter, Darrell Bakeman. He died while a resident at an adult care home and is survived by his daughters, Cherlyn Mitchell, Darrell Bakeman and Yolanda Parrish; grandchildren – Blaine Mitchell, Lisa Manning (Richard), Kyle Mitchell (Mila), Thomas Mitchell (Charmaine Petersen) and Monica and Cesanee Johnson for whom he devoutly served as a surrogate father; great grandchildren: Avery Mitchell, Alexandra Manning, Justin Manning and Kynasen Johnson; cousin George Dawson; nieces Loadice Tonkins and Florice Walker; nephew Wilson Walker; and a host of other relatives and friends.

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