William Joseph Phillips

William Joseph Phillips, age 80, passed away peacefully Friday, December 9, 2023, at his home in Sylacauga. He was born August 15, 1943. Joe was a devout Christian, husband, father, Paw Paw and friend to many. He will be greatly missed by the loved ones in his tight inner circle of life.

Memorial services will be Wednesday, Dec. 13 at Curtis & Son Funeral Home in Sylacauga. Visitation begins at 9:30 a.m. before services at 11 a.m. Burial follows in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery.

Joe’s favorite Bible verse, Proverbs 3: 5-6 states:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.”

Joe Phillips lived a life of following Jesus and walking the paths of his core Christian values. A lifelong resident of Sylacauga, Joe found no greater joy than being in the surroundings of his family property and boyhood home in downtown Sylacauga. He was happiest outdoors: bass fishing on Lake Martin, dove hunting in Talladega County, tinkering in his shop, and growing mountains of tomatoes, squash, peppers, greens, figs and much more in his garden, steps away from his lifelong home.

He enjoyed a simple life and used his God-given talents in service to others: sharing the bounty of his garden and fishing and hunting trips with friends and strangers.

He spent his early adult years in the painting business. Along with his father, Barney Phillips, Joe literally painted the town: from Avondale Mills and Kimberly Clark to houses throughout Sylacauga. After retirement from painting, he delivered boats throughout the Southeast and worked in a friend’s pawn shop where he enjoyed sharing his vast knowledge of firearms, knives and tools with others.

Joe found peace outdoors. In his later years, you would often find him – wearing his signature suspenders, t-shirts, khaki pants and New Balance sneakers – sitting in one of two places: his front and back porch watching the fattened birds and squirrels he loved to feed.

He enjoyed talking and spending time with his core group of lifelong friends from his childhood and teenage years at Sylacauga High School.

He treasured time with family and delighted in the sentimental memories of his childhood. He was an excellent cook and was known for many specialties: fried fish, hush puppies, turkey and dressing, and pecan pies to name a few. He loved gathering his family around the dinner table to enjoy meals together. He always had advice for anyone who would listen and knew a little about a whole lot of topics, whether you wanted to hear or not.

He loved watching Auburn Tigers football, basketball and baseball; the Atlanta Braves; and SEC sports. He was fond of grumbling about how the Birmingham TV stations favored the college rival on the other side of the state.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents Barney Joe and Clara Belle Peters Phillips and infant son, David Eli.

Joe was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Sylacauga, where he was Baptized as a child and married his teenage sweetheart, Rebecca Edmondson Phillips.

Joe and the one love of his life, Becky, celebrated 60 years of marriage in August 2023. Together, they have two beloved children: Tracy Phillips Conroy and husband Marty of Naperville, Illinois, and Christopher Joseph Phillips and wife Frances of Cartersville, Georgia; grandchildren, William Parker Phillips, Charlie Christopher Phillips and Rebekka Ragusa. He is survived by his brother, Robert C Phillips of Sylacauga, many nieces and nephews and lifelong friends.

Pallbearers are members of the First Baptist Church of Sylacauga Redneck Sunday School Class.

In lieu of flowers Joe would love nothing more than donations to be made to the First Baptist Church of Sylacauga.