John Oliver Phillips

September 18, 2014

Mr. John Oliver Phillips, 92, of Pleasant Grove, Tenn., formerly of Miami, Fla., passed away on Thursday, September 18, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Funeral services were conducted Monday, Sept. 22, 2014 at the Alexander Funeral Home Chapel, Lafayette, Tenn. with Father Vic Subb officiating. Interment was on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014 at Dade Cemetery, Miami.

John was born on Aug. 2, 1922 in Arlington, Georgia to the late Idus and Mae Phillips. He attended schools in Colquitt, Ga. and as a young man joined the United States Army during World War II, serving in Normandy and Central Europe. During his service he was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic or meritorious achievement. John was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Lafayette. He was an outdoorsman in his younger days, who loved hunting and fishing. He was an avid golfer and played regularly until bad health prevented it. He also loved to travel. Above all else, John loved his family.

After returning from the war he married Frances Smith. They raised two daughters and one son. They had a sweet life together and loved each other unconditionally until Frances passed away in 1958.

Besides his wife and parents, John was preceded in death by his son, Ronald John Phillips, and sisters, Ida Mae Lewis, Sarah Taylor, and Annie Pearl Lenis.

Survivors include two daughters, Diane (Jim) Foltz, Pleasant Grove, and Sandy Hawkins, Live Oak, Fla.; Granddaughter, Christina (Luis) Carmona, Miami; Sisters, Hazel Toole of Albany, Ga., Betty (Norman) Humphries of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Emma Wacaser, of Bainbridge.

Alexander Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.