Philip M. Higgins, Jr. (76) of Gainesville, VA passed away on January 25, 2016 after a short battle with cancer. Son of the late Philip and Lucille Higgins of Fayetteville, TN, he moved to Virginia in 1978 to be the Executive Director of the Church of Christ Children’s Home, later Rainbow Christian Services, a program that provided residential, maternity and adoption services to many in this area. Phil was given a gift from God to listen, love, and guide children and he used it to the fullest extent. In addition to taking care of their physical needs, under his leadership, the children were given many and varied enrichment opportunities. One of the highlights was taking the children to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Phil’s second love was travel. After leaving Rainbow, he worked at Manassas Travel Agency which afforded him this opportunity. In recent years, Phil loved his work as a volunteer at MLK Elementary School in Dale City where he continued loving and helping children and faculty.
Phil is survived by his brother, Charles Higgins, two sisters Ann Claborn and Elizabeth Clark, numerous nieces and nephews, and his special friend, Suellen Phillips.
Visitation will be from 12-2 pm Friday January 29, 2016 at Pierce Funeral Home in Manassas, VA followed by a memorial service at 2 pm, officiated by Brother Tommy South. Burial will be in his home town in Tennessee.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Smile Train, PO Box 96231, Washington, DC 20090.
