Cathy Parr:
CLASS OF 1982
Richmond High SchoolClass of 1982
Rockingham, NC
Cathy's Story
1983, started college. Quit after two years. They didn’t have enough enrolled in the last two courses I needed.
1986: Started working at Richmond Memorial Hospital kitchen.
1988: Transferred to the business office file room as file clerk
1993: Met and married radio personality, Jay Parks, aka Class of 84 Jerry Parker. We were married 9 yrs and 8 months when we divorced. Had no kids.
2003: Late 2003, rode to Corbin Kentucky to meet an online friend from Arizona, Greg Parr. After three days in Kentucky, I wanted to bring him home with me. We were a perfect match. Why meet a friend from AZ in Kentucky? He was there getting some things his college room mate had stored for him when me moved to AZ. He is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with his Bachelor’s in Art Education.
His art is seen at angelfire dot com/az3/azartist37.
2004: He came to visit me in NC for 6 weeks. Hated to take him back to the airport.
2004: Christmas in AZ. My first plane trip all alone. So exciting.
2005: Quit RMH after 20 yrs, sold my house myself and moved to Phoenix Arizona. I drove the moving van cross country. So much fun. Such an adventure.
2005: December. Began working at special ed paraprofessional in elementary grades. Never thought I’d enjoy this. It was quite a ride. I loved it. From 2005-2014, I worked at five different schools in Phoenix. Made some wonderful friends.
2007: Came home to Rockingham for ten day visit.
2010: Greg and I took vacation to Santa Monica Ca, so I could say I visited both coasts. Dipped my toes in Atlantic AND Pacific Oceans.
2010: Christmas: Got first and only visitor in AZ from NC. My nephew Austin. Enjoyed his three day visit.
2012: Feb. Mama passed away. I wasn’t notified by the family until after her burial. Family quit speaking to me for not coming home for service. I couldn’t afford it.
2012: Oct 1. Married my best friend, Greg Parr in a civil ceremony in Surprise, AZ.
2014: Summer, came back to Rockingham for surprise visit to my Daddy. Knew this would be last time I visited him and wanted to spend the whole three days with him. The farewell was bittersweet. I cried all the way back to AZ.
2014: December. Took job in Human Resources as file clerk at valleylifeaz dot org. I love it there. It’s like family.
2015: February 20th. My world took a drastic turn for the worse. My beloved husband and best friend is arrested and taken to jail while I’m at work. I came home and had to sit outside till 11 pm waiting for detectives to ransack our apartment looking for contraband. No…it wasn’t drugs. But, a new chapter is about to begin.
2016: January 27th, While at one of Greg’s hearings, I get home and find an obituary notice from Carters that my daddy had died. I can’t afford to go home this time either. I spent my three days of bereavement from Valleylife, alone in a studio apartment with our two cats.
2016: May 6. Sentencing Day. After talking him into a plea agreement, my husband is sentenced to ten years in prison in Florence AZ. I didn’t even get to say bye or hug him or anything.
2016: July. Church member took me to Florence for my first visit. We drove two hours for me to sit at a small table with him and hold one hand for three hours. I did get a hug and kiss. This starts the next ten years of our life. Two 15 minute phone calls a week that I pay for an...Expand for more
d one visit a month to hold his hand for three hours.
Present. 2/2017: Still working for valleylife. Still visiting Greg in prison. Attending a wonderful church here in Phoenix. Small and family oriented church. They are like family. Work is like family as they are my family. My real family in NC don’t want me anymore. It is what it is. Their decision. I still love them.
People try to tell me to divorce my husband. No way. We’ve both been through divorce before and we need each other too much to go through that again. I’m all he has and he’s all I have. We’ll stay together to see this through.
It’s not the plan I had for myself in 1982 as to what life would be in 2017. I’m not living in a nice house with a nice car. I drive a beat up 2005 Dodge van. I’m not making tons of money or have degrees or awards.
I have a wonderful husband whom I adore and will stand by no matter what. I have a rewarding job helping people come to work for our company and helping all those who help others within our company. I have a superb church family who love my husband and me. It was very precious when the judge at his sentencing asked if anyone was there to support Greg and would they support him after his release. An entire row and a half of supporters from our church all stood up at the same time, gave their names and agreed to support him. They have never met Greg in their lives. But, they love him.
I have helped some great kids with special needs meet basic goals in their lives. What is basic to us, is monumental to them. I’m so proud of all of them.
I’ve suffered news that I’d never be a mother, suffered news that my husband no longer wanted to be married to me (on Valentines, no less), suffered the loss of my parents, aunts, two cousins and friends and one of my dear special angel students.
I’ve been very proud of my husband in his teaching career and showing his paintings at galleries in Scottsdale and Sedona. We’ve had a wonderful marriage.
While in handcuffs I had to watch them carry my dear one away to prison. I’ve lived the last two years mounting up debt and working hard, having friends bring me food and accepting handouts from church. This is so NOT me. It’s not been the way I wanted it. But, it’s the way it is.
Sometimes, God will make us learn to accept help as well as give it.
Now, I’m living in a tiny studio apartment in Phoenix, going to work and church and just existing for the next 8 years until they send my husband back to me. Then, we’ll start a new adventure of him trying to get a job as a 60 yr old felon with lifetime probation on him. Felon’s can’t live just anywhere. We’ll have to find a house. He’ll have to find a job where they’ll take half of his paycheck for the rest of his life for probation fees. Meanwhile, in NC, my brother is telling lies on me that I don’t work and I’m poor mouthing to get people to support me. This is so not true. Don’t listen to this lie.
I’m doing my best to survive. I do work. I pay my bills and get NO government help. I’m trying to be good and make a nice little home for when Greg is reunited to my side.
No, it’s not my dream. My dream was to play my flute in a symphony orchestra. My flute, that I still have, has a broken spring and I don’t have the money to fix it.
But, I love the crazy ride that God has taken me on and all the lessons He’s taught me.
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