Clayton woman celebrates 100th birthday with firefighter family

Aldine Parrish, who was born in 1922, turned 100 on Sept. 10. In 1943, she married Bo Parrish, who served Clayton as a volunteer firefighter for 20 years. In that time, the Parrish family became close with their Clayton community.

Bo Parrish joined the Clayton Fire Department in the 1950s, when there were only 16 volunteer firefighters, according to the town.

Aldine Parrish said she remembers a time before cell phones and pagers, when a fire siren rang in Clayton to alert firefighters. She recalls her husband responded to one of Clayton's largest fires in 1954 at the Bo Ellis Store on Main Street in downtown, where the popular Manning's Restaurant now sits.

In a newspaper article from the 1980s, Bo Parrish described his first uniform, writing he had to wear a yellow rubber raincoat that melted to him during the Bo Ellis fire.

Aldine Parrish also recalled Bo's black boots always beside their doorstep.

"Spring, summer, fall and winter, the boots were beside the door," she said. "Bo was always ready to help others, no matter what the situation was. I have always been proud of that."

Aldine Parrish was surprised at her birthday party when firefighters took her for a ride in the 1947 Fire Engine No. 1.

"The Clayton Fire Department is a stick-together family-type thing, and I thank God for the family-like connections we share here in Clayton," she said. "Bo loved Clayton, and he loved the fire department. We had a good life together."