Avis Wright Phillips

"She has irresistible charm and personality." Sullivania Annual, 1941

Avis Wright Phillips of Kingsport went home to be with the Lord, Monday, July 8, 2013, at Holston Manor.

Born in Waynesville, NC, a daughter of the late Gaither Jefferson and Lillie Mae Wilson Wright, she has resided in this area most of her life. She was a graduate of Sullivan High School.

She retired as a Cafeteria Manager for Sullivan County School Food Services in 1982 following 15 years of service.

Avis was a member of Arcadia Presbyterian Church and a former member of Harmony Presbyterian Church where she was very active in church functions. She was also a member of Bloomingdale Ladies Ruritan, Bloomingdale and Sunnyside Senior Citizens, and Bloomingdale Homemakers Club.

She will be remembered as a loving mom, mamaw, and great-grandma, sister, aunt, and friend who loved to cook, garden, sing, work crossword puzzles, and read scriptures.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Preston Place Suites and Preston Place II, and a very special thank you to the staff of 300 wing at Holston Manor for their wonderful care, love, and respect of our mother.

In addition to her parents, Avis was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, John Phillips; sister, Hazel Surgenor; and brother, Blaine Wright.

She is survived by her children, John H. Phillips, Jr., and wife Betsy, Statesville, NC, Cathy Phillips, Kingsport, Gaither Mark Phillips and wife, Pauline, Floyds Knobs, IN, and Pamela Shipley and husband, Tom, Kingsport; seven grandchildren, Johnny Phillips, Cyndi Hughes and husband, Kevin, Elizabeth Stiltner and husband, Jeremy, Gaither Phillips and wife, Melanie, David Phillips and wife, Kimberly, Sara Beth Phillips, and Emma Phillips; eight great-grandchildren, Jordan, Lindsey, Gracie Madelyn, Ella, Cora, Julian, Gabriel, and one on the way; three sisters, Lois Tosh and husband, Paul, Tuscon, AZ, Dorotha Jean England and husband, Gene, Aiken, SC, and Sunny Hittinger, Knoxville, TN; and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013, at Hamlett-Dobson, Kingsport. Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2013, in the chapel with Rev. John H. Phillips III and Rev. John H. Phillips, Jr., officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Gaither Phillips, David Phillips, Jeremy Stiltner, Kevin Hughes, Dwain Hittinger, Don Ray Hittinger, and Lawrence Hittinger. Honorary Pallbearers will be Johnny Phillips III and the men of Arcadia Presbyterian Church.

Those wishing may make memorial contributions to the Building Fund of Arcadia Presbyterian Church, 4616 Bloomingdale Road, Kingsport, TN, 37660.

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