Martha "Janie" Virginia Phillips

Janie was born on February 11, 1934 at home to Charles Lee and Frances Ball Phillips. She was 90.

She was the fifth of their nine children and grew up in the shadow of the Depression and World War II in a loving and boisterous family. She and her siblings often spoke of their adventures growing up in Fayetteville, and told stories in which their grandparents and aunts and uncles played prominent roles. As she was growing up, her Uncle Howard Phillips nicknamed her Janie.

Janie graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1952, where she played drums as a member of the marching band, and from Huntington Junior College. She worked as a telephone operator which was located above the old “jewelry store” located on the corner of Court Street and Maple Avenue. She was a legal secretary and worked for the law firm, Mahan, Higgins, Thrift, and Graney. She later worked for Judge Charles M. Vickers in the Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney’s office and Circuit Court Judge in Fayette Co. She also worked as a secretary in Charleston for the WV State Govt.

Janie was a loving and devoted daughter, sister and aunt. She lived with her parents and cared for them in their elderly years. She was dearly loved and played a parental role in the lives of many of her 26 nieces and nephews.

She loved animals, particularly her standard poodles, Suzette and Honey and her big black retriever dog Griffin, each of whom she sorely missed after their lives as her companion ended. She was a member of the Fayetteville Presbyterian Church.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her sisters, Patricia Phillips Wendell and her husband, Houston “Wheat” Wendell, Courtney Phillips Proctor and her husband, Herbert “Pete” Proctor; by her brothers, Charles Lee Phillips Jr., Joseph Preston Phillips, and John David Phillips; her brother-in-law, Cam Wimer; and her nephews, Ricard Gray Wendell, Joseph P. Phillips, Jr and Jacob Andrew Hanson; and her niece, Lera Wimer.

Janie is survived by her sisters, Eleanor Wimer, Mary Margaret Thrift and Susan Hanson and her husband, Dennis; sisters-in-law Jeannie Phillips, Martha Phillips and Kay Phillips; as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and her nephew, Britt Thrift, who made his home with her and helped with her care.

The funeral will be Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Fayetteville Presbyterian Church with Pastor John Holland officiating. Visitation will begin at noon followed by the service. Interment will follow in Huse Memorial Park.

The family would like to thank Bowers Hospice nurses and staff for their wonderful care and her care workers Rose Brace, Bessie Pennington, and Denise Mcintosh for their special and kind care given to Janie.

Those wishing to leave expressions of comfort and sympathy for Janie's family may do so by visiting www.doddpaynehessfuneralhome.com.