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CORDELE — Joanne H. Phillips, 91, died Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, at her residence following a lengthy illness. Services will be at 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020 in the chapel of Hughes & Wright Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Sunnyside Cemetery. The family will receive friends beginning at 2 p.m. before the service.

Mrs. Phillips was born in Arabi, Ga. to Joseph Alton and Christine Royal Hamilton. She is the widow of Luther Claude Phillips with whom she had a marriage of almost 60 years. She is also preceded in death by her siblings: Hortense Sims, Alton Hamilton, Helen Green and Laura Peebles.

She was a longtime member of Wenona Baptist Church where she was very active as long as her health permitted. She attended Arabi High School and later Valdosta State where she received her Master’s in Special Ed. She also taught a combined 35 years in the local school systems, Crisp Academy and Crisp County. She was very dedicated to her students. In fact, she was a “teacher’s teacher.” She was a dedicated wife, loving mother and grandmother.

She is survived by her children: John Richard Phillips, Becky McVey and Pat Smith and her husband James all of Cordele and Rhett Stephen Phillips of Atlanta; her grandchildren: Thomas Phillips, Andrew McVey, J.P. Smith, Chris Smith, Michael Smith, Catherine Phillips and Elizabeth Phillips; and six great-grandchildren.

Online condolences may be left at www.hughesandwright.com. Hughes & Wright Funeral Home, Inc. is entrusted with these arrangements.