Brenda Joyce Brown Phillips, age 82, of Lawrenceburg, TN passed away Friday, June 07, 2024, at Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia, TN. She was a native of Florence, AL, a retired recreation coordinator from NHC Healthcare Scott, and a member of First Baptist Church of Ethridge. Brenda loved music and spent her whole life singing and playing the organ and piano. She was a member of several All-American TN State Choirs and was the pianist/organist for Flatwoods Freewill Baptist Church, Gum Springs Baptist Church, and Ethridge First Baptist Church. She was also a member of multiple community organizations including Pilots Club, Lawrence County Alzheimer’s Support Group, and RoAnn’s Club, of which she served as president. She also served as the Co-director of the Little Miss Fairest of the Fair and the Fairest of the Fair Pageants and was a graduate of Leadership Lawrence County. She spent her final years sewing, crocheting, reading, and spending time with her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. J. O. Brown, Jr. and Grace Strawn Brown; her husband, Billy Ray Phillips; son-in-law, Jason “Boo” Perry; two brothers, Major Leslie Ray Brown and James Melvin Brown; sister-in-law, Ann Brown; father-in-law, W. O. “Shorty” Phillips; mother-in-law, Eunice Phillips; and two brothers-in-law, Buddy Creel and Harold Phillips.
She is survived by one daughter, Amanda Perry of Lawrenceburg, TN; two grandchildren, Colton Perry and Lilah Perry; one sister, Duwan Creel of Columbia, TN; aunt, Shirley Brown of Tuscumbia, AL; cherished best friend for 59 years, Clara Hairrell; three godchildren, Jayme Hairrell, Tonya Hairrell Burchfield, and Billy Hairrell, all of Knoxville, TN; two brothers-in-law, Jim Phillips (Brenda), and Kenneth Phillips (Jane), both of Greenhill, AL; special cousin, Angela Phillips Byers (Joe) of Pensacola, FL; a host of nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are being handled by Neal Funeral Home, 231 N. Military Avenue, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday, June 14, 2024, and from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Neal Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at Neal Funeral Home at 2:00 PM Saturday, June 15, 2024, with Carl Brown officiating. Interment will follow at Kidd Cemetery in Lawrenceburg, TN.
