Lee Roy Phillips was born on January 23, 1931 in Starkville, MS. He passed away on December 2, 2023. He was born into a large loving family. His loving parents were Porter and Ada Phillips. Lee Roy graduated from Starkville High School and attended EMCC and Mississippi State University. Lee Roy worked with his father farming in the Sessums area and in the local store they owned in Brooksville. Upon his father’s death, he went to work for the Coca-Cola plant in Starkville and then went to work as a letter carrier for the US Postal Service until his retirement in 1990. Lee Roy married Patricia Earle Hill on November 10, 1956. They recently celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. They had 4 children, Lee Roy Phillips, Jr., Steven Earl Phillips, Glenn Alan Phillips, and Lana Beth Phillips Knight. Lee Roy Phillips was a simple man. He loved God above all. He was a family man. He loved his wife and children in all that he was. When his grandchildren entered the world, he experienced a new joy with his grandchildren and later his great grandchildren. All of his grandchildren considered him a hero. He was always their biggest supporter. He loved his hometown of Starkville, MS and his beloved Mississippi State Bulldogs, of whom there is not a bigger supporter. And most of all, he loved “his darling wife” Patricia. She was his rock. In recent years, he couldn’t take care of her, but he pleaded with all of those around him to take care of “Mama”. He loved to tell stories of his youth, of his brothers and sisters and parents, of his children and grandchildren, and of trips, mostly to ballgames, with lifelong friends Gene & Marie Baldwin. Later in life, he loved to write poems of all those moments that always ended with the theme of loving God and putting Him first.
He was a member of the Starkville Church of Christ and a member of the 31st Infantry Dixie Division. He was an original member of the Starkville Liar’s Club at Starkville Cafe and enjoyed having coffee with men of the community for many years.
Lee Roy was preceded in death by his parents: Porter Phillips and Ada Phillips, 3 brothers: Preston Phillips, “Skeeter” Phillips, J.P. Phillips, 3 sisters: Minnie Delle Ratcliff, Pauline Delivorias, Louise Gray Faust, and one son: Glenn Phillips. He is survived by his wife Pat Phillips, sister Betty Harbor, children Lee Phillips (Pat) of Hendersonville, TN, Steve Phillips (Valerie) of Starkville, MS, and Lana Knight (Barry) of Memphis, TN, 8 grandchildren: Rob Phillips (Lane), Mike Phillips (Chelle), Phillip Knight (Lauren), Mary Anne Phillips, Todd Phillips (Kate), Laura Beth Liddon (Bob), Chris Phillips, Jonathan Knight (Emily). He also has 10 great grandchildren: Glennlee, Porter, Tucker, Olivia, Yanni, Abe, Kase, Ada, Jameson, and Eloise, and many nieces and nephews.
The family deeply appreciates the loving care given by The Carrington Nursing Home over the last 2 1/2 years and especially for the positive impact over the last few months.
A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held Tuesday, December 5 at 11:00 AM at Starkville Church of Christ with a visitation at 9:30 AM preceding the service. A graveside service at Memorial Gardens Cemetery will follow. If you choose to make a memorial, please make it to the Starkville Church of Christ or to a charity of your choice
