Our family’s loss was heaven’s gain when Barbara Ann Phillips, age 80, went home to be with Jesus on Monday, January 16, 2023.Barbara lived the majority of her life in Cherokee County. She grew up in the Martins Creek community with her parents, Tommy and Pearl Phillips, brothers Bobbie, Charles, Ray, Steve and Johnny, and one sister, Betty. When Barbara was 18 years old, she was blessed with her first child Regina (Holloway), followed closely by Teresa (Sampson), then finally Paul (Revis). Barbara, along with her young family, resided in a few different states before returning “home” when the kids were in elementary school. It was then that Barbara began her 36-year career as an inspector at Clifton Precision. When she retired at the age of 65, she took with her not only valued work experience, but lifelong friendships, and a collection of stories, and fond memories to ponder and share. Her co-worker “shenanigans” always brought a smile to her face, and contagious laughter to all who loved her and knew her best. Barbara took pride in her work and in her family. She worked hard as a single mother raising three children, never complaining or expecting people to feel sorry for her or her situation.
Barbara taught her kids to love strong, love God, be kind and respectful, say please and thank you, love everyone, and work hard. She knew the value of her kids being in church. She knew the kind of mom she needed to be, in any given circumstance, when her kids were young, or grown and on their own. She was a listener, helper, caregiver, housekeeper, baby-sitter, cook, softball coach, Brownie/Girl Scout troop leader, comforter, entertainer, chore scheduler, rule enforcer, life-skills teacher, appointment companion, thrift store shopper, Bible reader, and a confidant to her children. She was loving, accepting, empathetic, dedicated, observant, fair, generous, nurturing, wise, loyal, funny, committed, supportive, selfless, stern, encouraging, clever, thoughtful, dependable, witty, resourceful and forgiving… just to name a few.
Regina fondly remembers when she and Roger started dating, Barbara took a quick liking to him because of the way he treated her daughter and family. Barbara lovingly reminded Regina that good men like him were hard to find- that was 42 years ago. Regina and Roger have one son, Jason, who is married to Kelly- both are employed by Mercer University in Macon, GA, and together they have two children- Hudson and Madeleine- Barbara’s great- grandchildren. Jason fondly remembers when he was young going to her house and drawing on computer paper that she brought home from work, then hiding his maps and characters under her furniture. He and Barbara would go shopping for comic books, get ice cream, and listen to the Eagles and Chicago on a portable cassette player. Jason says she was, “...a woman who was in so many ways more than a nana and more like a second mother to me.” When Teresa introduced Philip to Barbara, she initially said she liked him and thought he was a good guy, but Barbara quickly recanted and said, “NO- I don’t like him because if I like him, you won’t!”- that was 24 years ago. Philip and Teresa have a daughter, Brittany, who works for the Caring Company, based in Charlotte, NC. Brittany says one of her favorite memories of Barbara was the Christmas we played Been boozled.
Barbara would walk around laughing at those who had to eat a very gross flavored jellybean and spit it in the garbage! “She laughed so much that day!" And, when Paul decided, he was going to ask Lori to be his wife, he took Barbara with him to help pick out the engagement ring- he remembers her being so happy- that was 32 years ago. Paul and Lori have a daughter, Faith Ann, who is in college at WCU. Faith Ann’s fondest memories of ‘Nana’ are “Going over to her house playing doctor, hide and seek, and always eating Nutter Butters in milk and drinking a strawberry Ensure.” Barbara was most happy when surrounded by the people she loved, doing what she loved most - sharing laughter, having a good time, and talking on the phone! She enjoyed going to concerts, bowling, always looked forward to dinners with her siblings and their families, and she spent countless hours sitting on her carport, enjoying a cup of coffee and long conversation with any relatives or friends that just happened to stop by. “…Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed…” Proverbs 31: 25-28
In celebration of Barbara’s life, family and friends will gather for a Memorial Service at Townson-Rose funeral home in Andrews, NC, on Sunday, January 29, 2023. The family will gladly welcome friends from 2-3:00pm, and the service will begin at 3:00. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society in honor of Barbara Phillips at https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate/memorial-giving.html
You may send tributes to the family at
www.townson-rose.com
Elbert Edwin Timpson 
