The Mary Parrish Center For Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence is named in honor of the late Mary E. Parrish (Tubby). A heroic survivor of domestic violence, Mary was born November 30, 1927. The oldest of six siblings, she grew up in the Middle Tennessee area in a farming community. Mary was taken out of school during the sixth grade to help on the farm. It was there she learned the valuable lessons of hard work that would serve her throughout her life.

Between 1947 and 1955, Mary gave birth to five children, whose names are (in order of their births) Sherrie Elaine Wilbanks, Johnnie Sue North, Tommy Ray Winn, Juanita Kay Park and Mark Allan Wynn.

In 1959, Mary married her abuser. The relationship was fairly smooth for the first six months and then the violence started. It would last for eight terrifying years. During those years (often, holding down two jobs at a time) Mary worked in factories, restaurants and grocery stores to support her five children.

Although she tried over and over again to escape from the horror of the escalating violence at home, each time she and her children fled, her abuser found them and the brutality would start again. Without the support of any victim services her battle for survival was one she and her children fought alone. Finally, in 1967, with the help of her family, she was able to break free.

Despite the years of abuse and terrorism that she endured, Mary was able to raise all of her children to adulthood. They all now lead productive and peaceful lives. Her youngest child, Mark Wynn, has devoted his life to ending family violence as a police officer, detective, educator, program supervisor, consultant and advisor and was a key creator of the largest police domestic violence investigative unit in the United States.

When domestic violence victims ask about our name, we are given the opportunity to share Mary Parrish's story and offer them hope and encouragement that they too can rebuild their lives and the lives of their children.

Mary died on April 27, 1998, but her determination and courage and the gift she had to make everyone she met feel loved and like a member of her family lives on each time a victim of domestic violence walks through the doors of center that bares her name.