Ernest Fred Phillips

11/16/1929 – 09/16/2021

Obituary for Ernest Fred Phillips

Ernest Fred Phillips was born November 16, 1929 to the late Odell John Wesley Phillips and Minnie Clyde Swafford in Gary (Hunchback), West Virginia.

He left Knoxville in April 2021 and after a brief illness God called him home on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ernest grew up in Bluefield, West Virginia and was proud to serve in the United States Army as s Communications Specialist and Instructor. He won several medals, badges, decorations and commendations. He enjoyed such hobbies as collecting trains, listening to all types of music and making various wood crafts. He loved to wear nice suits with matching hat and shoes. Ernest loved to dance and loved to work in his “He-Shed”. He also had a passion for riding motorcycles. Ernest and his sister Mary McClean were the Huckle Buck King and Queen of West Virginia and were celebrated at the school Home Coming of West Virginia.

Ernest was a loving person who enjoyed living life to the fullest, all 91 years. He served as a deacon at Bentley Street Christian Church. He was loved by all who knew him.

Preceded in death by his parents, Odell and Minnie Phillips; brother, William Phillips; sisters, Mary McClean, Marie Tinsley, Louise Phillips and niece Peggy.

Ernest leaves to cherish his memories wife, Reverend Arzolla; brother, Johnnie Phillips Sr.; nieces, Sabra Airall of Georgia and Carol Phillips of Ohio; nephews, James Bailey and wife of Georgia, Kenneth Bailey of California, Johnnie (Gena) Phillips Jr. Ohio, Michael Phillips, Wesley Phillips and Ronald Phillips all of Ohio; stepdaughter, Reverend, Michelle Washington; step son, John (Simone) Rogers; god daughter, Frankie Ross; sisters-in-law, Audrey Brown, Debra Martin, Azell Gittens, Nannie Rose Washington; brother-in-law, Raymond Brown; special friends, Reverend Alvin Smith, Theodore Kincaid, James Houston, Oscar Washington III, Virgil Flowers, and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

“Jenny Gems”
When we get to the end of our lives
together, the house we’ve had, the
cars we drove and the things we owned
will not matter. What will matter is that I
had you and you had me.

Ernest and Arzolla

Family will receive friends, 12:00 noon-12:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at Jarnigan & Son Mortuary 2823 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.; funeral service, 12:30 p.m

Interment with Full Military Honors at East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, 2200 Governor John Sevier Highway.

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Arrangements by JARNIGAN & SON MORTUARY

www.jarniganandson.com

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Receiving of Friends

 Tuesday, September 28, 2021
12:00 noon-12:30 p.m
Jarnigan & Son Mortuary
2823 Martin Luther King Jr Ave, Knoxville, TN 37914

Funeral Service

 Tuesday, September 28, 2021
12:30 p.m
Jarnigan & Son Mortuary
2823 Martin Luther King Jr Ave, Knoxville, TN 37914

Interment with Full Military Honors

 Tuesday, September 28, 2021
East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery
2200 E Governor John Sevier Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37920

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