Prince Edward Phillips, Sr.

Phillips ~ Our Loving Obituary for Prince Edward Phillips, Sr.

                      ‘Your wings were ready, but our hearts were not.’

Prince Edward Phillips, Sr. heard his name being called to be at peace on April 2, 2024.  He was born March 23, 1934, to Reverend Tommie Lee Phillips and Carrie Pauline Phillips in Graham, Appling County, Georgia. Prince was a proud member of Baxley Training High School, class of 1950.  He was drafted into the Army while attending Savannah State College.  Prince served proudly for almost three years in Ft. Carson, Colorado, Oakland, California, Okinawa, Japan, and Ft. Hood, Texas.  While serving in Ft. Hood, Texas, he met and married the light of his life, Patsy James Anderson.

Prince met Patsy one Sunday morning at her church, Bethel A.M.E.  He would tell the story that he was on leave from Ft. Hood, TX, and visited her church, where she was playing the piano. Prince would say he did not know what was prettier, the music she was playing, or the young lady who was playing the music. He would say he had to ask permission from her mother to date her; they married July 18, 1956.  After marrying at her mother’s home in Cameron, TX, Prince and Patsy relocated to Jacksonville, Florida.  

After relocating to Jacksonville, Prince and Patsy started their life together surrounded by family and friends who welcomed them to the big city. Both were from small towns and were very close to their families and kept the tradition of supporting each other.  Prince’s brother, James ‘JT’ Thomas, helped Prince get a job with Simmons Beautyrest Company; later starting a career with Frito-Lay, where he worked for over twenty years.  Then, finally retiring from Glidden Paints where he worked as an Assistant Store Manager. 

Prince’s early years included attending church with his family in Graham, GA, being raised in a loving Christian home, led him to Woodlawn Presbyterian Church, USA in Jacksonville, FL.  Prince was an active and dedicated member of Woodlawn Presbyterian Church, USA for over 40 years, where he was a member of the Trustee Board, Moderator of the Presbyterian Men’s Organization, a Sunday School Teacher, an Elder, a Deacon, member of the Outreach Committee, First Sunday Usher, worked with Northside Food Bank, a member of the Woodlawn Men’s Choir and other numerous committees and organizations.

He was known for his uncanny ability to calculate any mathematical problems in his head, his jokes and storytelling, being a sharp dresser with his Fedora hats, gardening, his devotion to friends, his belief to do what is right, his love of his family, his love of his church, and his faith.  Prince was a member of the Club Royal Ambassador’s, Inc. and enjoyed spending time at the Legend’s Community Center on Soutel Drive in Jacksonville, where he enjoyed the friendship of so many.

Prince was preceded in death by the love of his life, his beautiful wife Patsy James of sixty-four years; father, Reverend Tommie Lee Phillips; mother, Carrie Pauline; brother, James Thomas Phillips affectionately known as JT; sister, Dorothy Wallace, known as Dot; nephew, Lathaniel Wallace known as Major, and his precious granddaughter, Morgan Elise Williams.  He leaves to celebrate his wonderful life, son, Prince Edward, Jr; daughters, Jennifer (Adrian) and Terrie (Dwight Sr.); grandchildren, Adrian (Cristina), Austin, Dwight Jr. (Aliyah), Thea, McKenzie; three great grandchildren, Dwight David III, Drew James, Alayla Munirah Mae; nephews Rodney (Brenda) and Gerald Anderson; nieces, Lois (Oliver) Hall and Tammy Wallace; sister-in-law, Dorothy T. Phillips; a host of adoring cousins, family, and friends.

Prince will be remembered for his passion to serve the Lord and his service to others, his faithfulness to God, his kindness and strength; he loved traveling back home to Georgia to see family and friends, traveling to visit his grands, watching sports with family and watching Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, his soap operas, baking cakes, sharing family stories and being with his family who surrounded him with love, joy, and peace. 

Prince’s profound words of wisdom were: “You must love everyone; this world needs hope and love. God has a plan”.

Celebration of Life service for Prince Edward Phillips, Sr. will be 1:00PM Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Woodlawn Presbyterian Church USA, 3026 Woodlawn Road.  Visitation Friday from 5 – 7:00 PM at The Church.  Inurnment at Jacksonville National Cemetery.  Because of the love of his family, arrangements entrusted to J. E. Fralin & Sons Funeral & Cremation Services, 5065 Soutel Drive, 904-924-9400

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