Alan Eugene Phelps

Alan was born in Washington, D.C., to Elbert Taylor Phelps and Jane Brackett Phelps and raised in Bethesda, Maryland. He was a graduate of Kenyon College, class of 1978, earning a bachelor’s degree in English. A lifelong lover of the written word, during college breaks he worked as a copy aide for the Washington Post newspaper in Washington, D.C. Supporting journalists would prove to be his vocation, kicking off a 30-plus-year career in the Post's Systems department, where he excelled as an IT specialist. It was while working at the Post that he also met the love of his life and future wife, Amy. Never ones to shy away from a new adventure, in 1999 he and Amy bought the blueberry farm down the road from her family's homestead in Lumberton, Mississippi, to which they later moved, reopening the farm as Pearl River Blues. Since then, PRB has grown into not only a destination for lovers of organic blueberries, but also a welcoming hearth for those in search of kindness and community, thanks in large part to Alan's tireless dedication and support. When he wasn't seeing to one of the many chores that come with running a farm, or helping entertain the steady flow of friends and in-laws, Alan could often be found walking the grounds, taking in the small splendors of life around the farm: a camellia blossom, a pecan grove, a horse's mane. Some of these sights would make their way into his daily sketchbook; others – the most precious – he shared with us through his paintings.

Alan was a devoted spouse, brother, uncle, and friend. He is survived by his wife Amy Elizabeth Wahl Phelps; his brothers John (Kate), Paul (Susanne), Barry (Lin), and Roger (Mary); his sisters Mary Ann Sibrava (John), Jean Rastall, and Martha McGrath (James); his in-laws Gretchen Wahl Schaubhut (Alton), Ellen Wahl Loper (Michael), Patricia Wahl Abel (James), Barbara Wahl Laughlin (Larry), William Wahl, Jr., and Christopher Wahl (Cindi); his 28 nieces and nephews (“niblings”) and 23 great-niblings; and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Elbert and Jane Phelps.

Relatives and friends are invited to honor Alan for a memorial service on Saturday, December 7. Guests are requested to park and gather at Pearl River Blues Blueberry Farm, 24 Curt Rester Road, Lumberton, MS, where, at 10:30 AM, a funeral procession will lead Alan to his final resting place at Tom Beall Cemetery, a short walk away. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. A reception will follow at Pearl River Blues, from 11:30 AM until 3:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that friends and relatives celebrate Alan’s passion for books, music, and civic stewardship by making donations to their local library or a public radio station of the giver's choosing.