Donald Walter Parrott, Jr.
Donald Walter Parrott, Jr., age 78, of Shady Dale, passed away Thursday, April 29, 2021, at Abbey Hospice in Social Circle after a long struggle with prostate cancer.
Don Parrott was born in Macon, on July 3, 1942, to the late Priscilla Cone Todd and Donald Walter Parrott, Sr. His beloved step-parents were the late Jane Holland Parrott and Russell Todd.
In 1958, Don moved from St. Augustine, Fla., to Monticello to live with his father. He was an honor graduate of Monticello High School in 1960.
He attended Georgia Tech and then enlisted and was in the U. S. Marine Corps from 1961 until 1965. He trained at Parris Island and finished his tour at Cherry Point, N.C. He was proud to be a Marine and to serve his country.
In 1964, he married Gail Sanders of Shady Dale.
Don continued his education at North Georgia College before transferring to the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy where he graduated with honors in 1969 while being a member of Rho Chi Honor Society.
After working for other pharmacies, in 1972, he purchased Monticello Drugs and achieved his dream of owning his own drugstore by the time he was 30.
Don enjoyed his work as a pharmacist and appreciated his loyal customers who made the store a success. On many occasions, he returned to the store after hours and on holidays to fill prescriptions needed by customers.
After owning and operating Monticello Drugs for 34 years, he sold the store to David Leach in 2006 and retired to enjoy traveling all over the world with Gail and spending as much time as he could with his grandchildren.
Don believed in community service and wanted to give back to the town that made the store a success, so he served many years on the Jasper County Board of Health. He was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church, a member of the Doer’s class, and chairman of the Trustees and Pastor Parish Committee. Don was a member of Jasper Masonic Lodge #50 F&AM and served on the Board of Jasper Historical Foundation. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 110.
In addition to his parents and step-parents, Don was preceded in death by two brothers, Dr. Frank Parrott and Thom Parrott; sister, Marcia Murray; and sister-in-law, Joyce Parrott.
He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Gail Sanders Parrott; son, William Brent Parrott and his wife, Jennifer; and only grandson, William Zachary (Zach) Parrott; daughter, Joy Parrott Cooper and her husband, Rob; and two granddaughters, Josephine Eliza Cooper (Josie) and Sarah Madeline Cooper (Sadie).
In addition, he is survived by a brother, Retired Judge Lee Parrott and his wife, Susan; sisters, Jan Parrott Jones and her husband, Keith and Jill Parrott Ansley and her husband, Vic; and many special nieces and nephews.
One of Don’s proudest achievements was mentoring six young ladies who worked at the drugstore. Four of them became pharmacists, one a pharmacy technician and one a nurse practitioner.
Since the death of his father in 2003, Don has been the patriarch of the Parrott family, for whom he did his best to love, guide, and sustain. Our family will forever hold him dear in our hearts.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 30, 2021 at Jordan Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 1, 2021, at the Monticello First United Methodist Church. Dr. John Brown and Rev. Kara Wilson will officiate.
Serving as pallbearers will be Frank Pool, David Leach, Jeff Howe, Larry Smith, Walt Harrell, and Corbett Kelly. Honorary pallbearers will be Lint Jordan and Malone Cunard.
If anyone would like to make a gift in memory of Don, please consider The Salvation Army (https://www.salvationarmyusa.org); The Tunnel to Towers Foundation (https://t2t.org); or charity of one’s choice.
Jordan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Visit its website at www.jordanfuneralhomemonticello.com.