Martha Eva Phillips

April 6, 1927 – January 9, 2024

Born in Lewisburg, Alabama to Louis McAvoy & Ruby McAvoy

She was, first and foremost, an amazing mother and godly woman. There was nothing she could or would not do for her family and friends. She was a single mother who worked hard as a waitress. Her fondest memories were of her job at Brenner’s Steak House in Houston.

She had little free time but always found time to love and be loved. After retirement, she spent most of her time making her grandchildren feel special. She especially enjoyed her hobbies which included sewing, baking, ceramics, and crocheting. She was a master of all things a great woman could do and much more. There are not enough words to describe the woman she was.

She was a member of Central Baptist Church for 27 years after returning to Houston from Arizona and Nevada where she resided from 1983 to 1997.

She is preceded in passing by her parents, Louis and Ruby McAvoy; husband, Dan Phillips; stepson, Robert Maddox; daughter, Carolyn Hodges; granddaughter, Beth Story; and son-in-law, Myles Downey.

She is survived by her children, Larry Maddox and wife Debbie, Ann Downey, and Libby Story.

She is also survived by her grandchildren: Donald Savage; Martha Eppinette and husband, Don; Vicki Bishop and husband, Mike; William Maddox, Roy Maddox and wife, Shirley; Annette Joyce and husband, Dave; Ann Marie Page and husband, Drue; Linda Michelle Pix, Archie Story and wife, Shawna; and Aaron Story, as well as 17 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

Martha was a simple Southern lady who fell in love with Roy A. Maddox and together they had four children who became the occupation and pre-occupation of her life. She may not have been equipped to provide for four children as a single mother, but she always reminded her children and anyone who asked, “The Lord always provides and takes care of His children.”

Whether you called her Martha, Mother, Aunt, Grandma, Grannie, or Friend, Martha Phillips will be missed by all and in our cherished memories forever.

A visitation for Martha will be held Monday, January 15, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Central Baptist Church located at 2855 Greenhouse Rd, Houston, TX 77084. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, January 16, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Central Baptist Church.