Edna Collette Phillips

Edna “Collette” (Brown) Phillips was born in Memphis on November 19, 1922. Her parents, James W. Brown originally of Brownsville and Edna C. Brown of Memphis divorced when Collette was a preschooler. Several years later, her mother remarried Jesse L. Jones who raised Collette as his own daughter. Collette attended St. Thomas Elementary School, Catholic High School and graduated from St. Mary Academy in Paducah, KY.

Collette met the man who would be her one true love, William B. Phillips, on a blind date arranged by her cousin who served with Bill in the Navy during World War Two. They raised 3 daughters, Carol Nadicksbernd of Collierville and Patty Ervin (Bill) and Laura Hammons (Mike) both of Germantown and one son Ken. Collette was predeceased by her husband Bill, her only son Ken and her son-in-law Joe Nadicksbernd.

Collette will be especially missed by her three daughters, her 3 grandchildren: Russell Nadicksbernd (Heather) of Germantown, Jay Nadicksbernd (Jenny) of Atoka and Emily Murphy (Patrick) of Germantown, her 4 great-grandchildren: Sara Nadicksbernd, Madeleine Nadicksbernd, Joseph Nadicksbernd and Margot Murphy, her sister-in-law, Theresa Phillips, and the staff and residents at South Breeze Senior Living where she resided for the last 9 years.

Collette died September 13, 2024 after a short hospitalization resulting from a fall.

A private burial service was conducted September 17, 2024 at Memphis Memory Gardens.

A memorial service will be conducted in October at South Breeze Senior Living.