Lawrence T. Phillips

Lawrence Thomas (L.T.) Phillips, age 91, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, March 7, 2015. He was born in Bolivia, NC on June 18, 1923 to the late Berry Roger Phillips and Mary Denton Phillips. L.T. was predeceased by his former wife, Betty Gibson Phillips, six sisters and three brothers.

An Army Veteran of World War II, L.T. participated in the Italian Campaign as a Cannoneer with the then 337th Field Artillery, 88th Division which was deactivated in the fall of 1947. For his commitment to service, he was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Theatre Medal, the Bronze Star and the American Defense Medal.

Prior to his retirement, L.T. was the owner and operator of Quality Tire Service in downtown Rocky Mount for many years. Aside from tending to his Tire Service, spending time with his family, he could be easily found fishing any number of ponds as it was a past-time he thoroughly enjoyed.

As a devout Christian, L.T. was a member of Arlington Street Baptist Church where he served faithfully for 65 years. He was proud when he became a Deacon and kept strongly to his faith. He later was made a honorary deacon when his health prevented him from serving as he had done for many years. Being a dedicated Tarheel Basketball fan, L.T. was Carolina Blue through and through.

L.T. is survived by his daughters, Vickie P. Sanders of East Flat Rock, and Wanda P. Page and her husband, Michael, of Nashville; his sons, Lawrence Thomas Phillips, Jr. and his wife, Dianne of Porter, TX, Bruce Scott Phillips of Rocky Mount, and Michael Phillips and his wife, Debbie, of Rocky Mount. From his children and left to cherish his memory are his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is survived by his wife, Edith Phillips and her children; daughter, Donna Warner and her husband, Gerald, of Rocky Mount; sons, Raymond Joyner and Kent Joyner and his wife, Kathleen, all of Spring Hope; as well as their children and grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 1:00pm, at Arlington Baptist
Church with Rev. Phillip Coats and Rev. Bill Grisham officiating. Burial with military honors will follow the service at Rocky Mount Memorial Park. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.
Arrangements are entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.