pˈæɹɪs wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn hˈæməltən, oʊhˈaɪoʊ, ðə dˈɔːɾɚɹ ʌv kˈɑːl. hˈaʊɚd lˈɪnzi pˈæɹɪs, ɐ juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts ˈɛɹ fˈoːɹs vˈɛɾɚɹən, ænd bˈɜːnɪs klˈɛɹ ɹˈɑːdʒɚz.
Parris was born in Hamilton, Ohio, the daughter of Col. Howard Lindsey Parris, a United States Air Force veteran, and Bernice Claire Rogers.