George Steven "Steve" Phillips

George Steven “Steve” Phillips left this earth to walk through the Pearly Gates to his heavenly home on Tuesday, November 5th with loved ones at his side. Despite some of the family difficulties he faced during his childhood, he did not allow himself to fall into similar behaviors nor allow that to define the person he was going to be. Steve came to know the Lord at 12 years old at a Billy Graham crusade and took strength from his faith to break the chains of generational trauma. His love, caring, and faithfulness to his beautiful wife Mary over the span of 61 years taught all of us how God intended marriage to be a blessed partnership (and yes, he could iron a shirt better than Mary!). He was a huge influence on not only his daughters, but their children and their spouses , always loving unconditionally, walking with God, and sharing the faith and trust in Christ that was so important to him. He was a “big kid” at heart – we saw that come alive with all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Though not college educated, he was smart and an incredibly hard worker who started out after high school graduation climbing poles for Southern Bell and his excellent work ethic landed him eventually in a management role with AT&T. He developed significant orthopedic issues at an early age that resulted in early retirement but he didn’t allow that to slow him down , always ministering to others around him without a thought to his own struggles or limitations. He served faithfully, along with Mary, in their church homes driving the bus for the Senior Ministry, chaperoning youth mission trips, and teaching Sunday School for more than 45 years. We take solace today in our faith which was cultivated in all of us by the way he lived his life. He was preceded in death by the love of his life and wife of 61 years , Mary Hargett Phillips. He is survived by his brother Rodric (Dickie) Phillips, daughter Sharon Beall (Art), daughter Amy Riley, grandchildren Caylin Lange (Ian), Jessica Davis (Andrew), Brendan Riley (Emily), Katie Jones (Evan), Emily Beall, Carrie Nix (Michael) and greatgrandchildren Carter Lange, Hannah Davis, Gabby Lange, Harrison Riley, Michael Nix, and Ollie Lange.