Marion Phillips

Marion Phillips, Jr (affectionately called "Junior" "Phil" "Top" and "Poppo"), was born November 16, 1931 to Marion and Annie Elizabeth Phillips in Coldwater, AL. He grew up on “Jones Hill” in Hobson City, AL where he graduated from Calhoun County Training School, went on to join the US Army where he served for 32 years retiring at Fort Bliss with the rank of Command Sergeant Major and then graduated from the University of Texas El Paso. Marion married Kathryn Dothard and they had a daughter. Then he met and married the love of his life Mary Lee Peeples, who he called "Sugar Babe" for 58 years and they had three children. He loved his four children and encouraged and supported them in many ways. His delight however was his grandchildren, he always wanted them around and always had just the right amount of money in his pocket for them. In his eyes they were perfect! Junior accepted Christ as his personal Savior at a young age and was baptized at the New Hope Baptist Church in Hobson City, AL. Wherever the Lord sent Junior and his family he joined a local church and became an active member. If we all listen carefully, you can hear him pitch a hymn -- "A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify, a never-dying soul to save, and fit it for the sky." Service was his call, duty and passion. He served God by serving the people of God. Phil served as a Deacon at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church for over 40 years serving as Chair, the Chair for two Pastoral Search Committees and loved teaching the "Over The Hill Gang" Sunday School Class. He served in the military receiving a Bronze Star, 2 Purple Hearts and was in the first graduating class of the Sergeant Majors Academy. "Top" sacrificed for this country in the Korean Conflict and was POW and then served two tours in the Vietnam War. His love for the country was second only to his love for family, friends and BBQ. He served so many people from the backyard smokers. Some of you took home doggy bags, doggy luggage and a walking sandwich. He also served you from his backyard garden and was very at home with his friends at one of many fishing holes and creeks around El Paso. The essential component to friendship or a meal was to be from his home state of Alabama, know someone from Alabama or at least have passed through Alabama. Truth be told, as long as people were around and the smoker fired up you were family and he was at home Poppo departed this life Saturday, June 3 and is survived by his wife Mary Lee, four children Rosalind P. Cooley (Henry) of Oxford, AL, Tara C. Phillips-Blackstock of Arlington, TX, Marion Phillips, III (Rhonda) of Brooklyn, NY and Christopher K. Phillips, of El Paso; seven grandchildren Derryl, Terryl, Tamara, Katrea, Taryn, Jalen and Nubia and 3 great grandchildren. He has one brother Joseph Terry Phillips, Clarkesville, TN, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Marion and Annie Elizabeth Phillips, and his two sisters Hassalena Dixon and Bertha Barfield.