Cynthia Jean Phillips

Cynthia Jean Phillips (Gross) was born to Margaret Nelson Gross and William Samuel Gross, in Pulaski Virginia, in July 1942. Two years later her sister, Carolyn, was born.

Cindy attended public school in Pulaski and was a 1960 Pulaski High School graduate. Her mother and family, of many aunts, were Virginia natives. Her father was originally from Kentucky.

Following High School, Cindy attended Sue Bennett Junior College in London, Kentucky for two years and finished her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky.

She taught school for 3 years in northern Kentucky and then took an elementary teaching job in Roanoke, Virginia to be closer to her family.

She met Dennis Phillips, from Washington, DC in January of 1972. He was working in radio and television in Roanoke.

They married in June of 1972 and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where Dennis worked at WBTV television.

Son, Clayton, was born in September of 1973 and daughter Holly was born in January of 1975.

Cindy and Dennis decided to move to Orlando Florida in the fall of 1975 and go into business. They founded a costume retail and manufacturing business , Allied Costumes.

Daughter Sara was born in April of 1981 making the family complete.

Dennis and Cindy sold their family business in 2009 after 34 years and moved closer to Carolyn and husband Rob and cousins in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Cindy’s many first cousins and their families lived within a short driving distance.

In 2014 Cindy and Dennis returned to Orlando.

Over the 51 years they were married, they enjoyed their family and traveling. Cindy taught Sunday School and was a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader. Cindy and Dennis were ballroom dancers and Cindy assisted Dennis in his magic stage show.

The remaining immediate family is husband, Dennis, son, Clayton, daughter Holly and her husband Tom, and daughter Sara. Cindy’s sister is Carolyn Edmunds, and her husband is Rob. She leaves behind first cousins and nephews and nieces.