“P” is for Parish, Margaret Cecile (1927-1988)

“P” is for Parish, Margaret Cecile (1927-1988). Author. A native of Manning, “Peggy” Parish graduated from USC. She moved to New York to teach—and there she began writing children’s books. Her first book, My Golden Book of Manners appeared in 1962. International acclaim for Parish followed the creation and publication of Amelia Bedelia in 1964. The title character is a housekeeper who interprets everything literally, leading her to use real sponges to make a sponge cake and to “dress” a turkey in stylish clothes—much to the delight of children all over the world. Ultimately Parish wrote a series of eleven books about Amelia Bedelia and her comic antics, as well as more than thirty other children’s books. In 1972, Margaret Cecile Parish returned to her hometown where she continued writing until her untimely death.