Agnes D. Phipps

Agnes Dunford Phipps, age 102, passed away at Gentiva/Franciscan Woods on Thursday, December 18, 2014, in Columbus, GA, surrounded by her family and loved ones. The family will receive friends at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Sunday, December 21, 2014, from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. A memorial service will be held 11:00 A.M., Monday, December 22, 2014, at First Baptist Church, Columbus. Dr. James C. Elder, Jr. will officiate. A reception will follow the memorial service Monday at the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church. A private burial will be held in Linwood Cemeterey.

Agnes was born September 18, 1912 in Pike County, AL the daughter of John Wesley Dunford and Grace Truman Mallett Dunford. She spent her adult life in Smith Station, AL and Columbus, GA. She worked for many years at Rosenberg Jewelers. She was the oldest member of First Baptist Church, Columbus, where she had been a member since August 1939, where she taught Sunday school, was a member of Covenant/McClatchy Class, and participated in Young at Heart. She volunteered and gave back to her community well past her 100th birthday, visiting the elderly, sponsoring a child each year for the Valley Rescue children’s summer camp and taking tea to the local Ronald McDonald House each month.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Newell Eugene Phipps, and six siblings. She was deeply loved and is survived by her four children, Newell Phipps (Gail) of Clearwater, FL, Truman Cawthorne (Herb) of Columbus, Frank Phipps (Joyce) of Lynchburg, TN, and Sarah I. Whidden of Largo, FL; seven grandchildren, including locally, Will Cawthorne and Jim Cawthorne; 14 great grandchildren; and four great great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Valley Rescue Mission, Ronald McDonald House, or First Baptist Church, Columbus. Condolences may be expressed at www.shcolumbus.com.