Moultrie, GA - Nayana Azad Parikh, 72 of Moultrie, Georgia passed away on Friday, May 9, 2025, at her

residence peacefully in her sleep.

She was born on February 26, 1953, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India to the late Umedlal and Jamanaben Kothari. She was the owner of The Moultrie Inn, in Moultrie, Georgia.

She is preceded in death by her husband; Azad "Sam" Parikh, her parents, two brothers, Nareendra and Pankaj Kothari.

Nayana's peaceful passing on May 9, 2025, marked the end of a beautiful life—but her legacy as

a loving mother and wife, a gym fanatic, and someone known for her smile, energy, great vibes, and deep love for family will always be remembered.

Known affectionately in the Moultrie community as "Mom" or "Mrs. Naina," she left a legacy that will be remembered for generations.

She married her husband, Azad, in 1982 after meeting him through his sister during a trip he made back to India. Not long after, she immigrated to the United States, leaving behind the familiar in pursuit of a new life alongside the man she loved.

In 1985, Nayana and Azad planted roots in Moultrie, Georgia, where they would raise their two sons and build the foundation of the Parikh family's American Dream. Together, they acquired the business, Town Terrace Motel, and later went on to obtain and operate The Moultrie Inn.

For the next 40 years, she provided the strength and support that allowed her husband and both of her sons to continue growing and carrying forward the "Parikh" legacy. She was loving, caring, and always there for her family.

Nayana has been a business owner and the rock of the Parikh family in South Georgia. After the passing of her loving husband, Azad, she showed incredible strength and grit as she stepped up to lead their hotel business and other ventures. Those who had the chance to meet Nayana during

her life would never forget her infectious smile—it became something everyone knew her by,

from family and friends to colleagues and employees.

Patrons of the Parikh family's hotels always remembered her generous smile and the empathy she showed when guests were going through tough times. She was always willing to help, offering different options and doing

whatever she could to make things easier for others.

She loved her Moultrie. Even though her sons had school and careers that took them away from Moultrie at times, Nayana never wanted to leave. Moultrie wasn't just a place of business to her; it was home. She loved being in

Moultrie. The countryside, the quiet, and the peaceful atmosphere of Moultrie gave her a sense

of comfort and tranquility.

She was a woman with many interests. She loved watching her favorite TV shows like Dance

India Dance or Indian Idol, listening to Bollywood music, dancing, reading about fitness,

working out, doing yoga, and always keeping her health a priority. She also loved to travel and spend time with family and friends. Over the past five years, she became especially interested in fitness—ever since receiving her first Apple Watch in 2020. She made sure to go to the gym often and always wanted to finish her rings. She would say, "Amar, Nikul, look at all the awards

I got from Apple!" Later, she was introduced to YouTube and would watch videos for hours—always learning about new fitness programs and exercises and wanting to get better.

She was an avid member of the Moultrie YMCA, where she had been going for over 40 years. She especially enjoyed spending time with her sons at the gym and traveling together. One of her

favorite memories was getting the chance to experience the World Cup with them and going on a dune buggy adventure—she was always down for the vibes.

Recently, she had the joy of

returning to India to visit her brother and family and pray at the Shrinathji Temple. Her faith was central to her life. She was a devout Hindu and regularly attended temple services, including weekly visits to the Mahadev Temple in Moultrie and lifelong member at the Shree Shakti Mandir Temple in Jonesboro, Georgia.

As an immigrant who came to the United States after marrying her husband, Nayana bravely left

everything behind to support him, uncertain but trusting that this was where life was meant to take her. In time, she found joy and fulfillment, fully embracing the American Dream while discovering new hobbies, passions, and a deep sense of belonging.

Nayana became a fully naturalized U.S. citizen and took her civic duties seriously. After every election, she would proudly wear her "Voted" sticker with a big smile on her face. Nayana Parikh was, without a doubt, a living and breathing example of a devoted wife, loving mother, and proud family woman who fully embraced the blend of cultures that shaped her journey and always looked for

ways to give back to her community.

She embodied the work ethic and values that she passed on

to her sons. Nayana valued family and friendship and was known to be a loving, caring, and genuine woman. She was a woman who would do anything for her family and loved ones. This was demonstrated

in how she raised her children, Nikul and Amar. She worked to ensure that they were happy and

fully immersed in American culture while maintaining their traditional Indian roots.

Nayana had an impeccable sense of style, and you would not see her without her makeup done, hair done, and an outfit on. She had to make sure she was matching—and she loved her Nikes (Nike Sneakerhead). She kept her Nike outfits ready, and she would never leave the house or let anyone see her unless she was fully ready to go.

Most importantly, she loved her husband, Azad—she was devoted to him and always focused on supporting his health and well-being throughout their life together. She also deeply loved her two sons, Amar and Nikul. She would do anything for them. She made sure they had breakfast every

morning, answered their phone calls 24/7, and always ensured they had lunch at school because

of their vegetarian diet—warm meals she prepared each day for her children, which their dad

would lovingly deliver to them while they were in school in Moultrie. She wanted to make sure

her sons were healthy and had a great education and that her husband was fully supported. She

instilled these same values in her children so that they, too, would continue the "Parikh Legacy."

She recently had the joy of seeing Amar win several awards with the T-Mobile Business Group

and watching Nikul receive his white coat at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG). Even after the loss of her husband, she remained strong and proud, witnessing Amar grow as a leader in the corporate world and Nikul begin his journey to becoming a medical doctor. These moments brought her so much happiness, knowing her sons were resilient and continuing to build a strong legacy for the Parikh family—steadily and surely achieving their dreams. More than anything, she just wanted to make her sons happy and always be there to support them.

As we remember the life of our MOM—Nayana Parikh—let us all remember her business acumen, her spirit as a super boss woman, her style, her smile, her bubbly, caring, and nurturing nature, her tenacity, and most importantly, the love she had for her family—that will forever leave an everlasting stamp on her life. She was such a "Cutie Pie". Om Shanti.

Her survivors include Two Loving and Beloved Sons: Nikul Parikh of Augusta, Georgia, Amar Parikh of Atlanta, Georgia; One Brother: Hemant Kothari of Mumbai, India; Many nieces, nephews, and special people who held a loving place in her heart.

Services will be held Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Music Funeral

Services - Valdosta.

The family will start receiving friends at 2:15 p.m. Saturday. Messages of sympathy may be expressed online at www.musicfuneralservices.com. There will be an option to view the funeral online on Music Funeral Services Facebook (http://

m.facebook.com/musicfuneralservices).

The Parikh family is being served by the caring and compassionate staff of Music Funeral Services - Valdosta.