A Celebration of Life Service will be held for Dr. Robert Phillips (Phil) Mathis on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Corinth, Mississippi,. Dr. Nathan VanHorn will officiate the service. The family will welcome friends at a visitation to be held on Friday, November 1, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the church, and an hour before the service on Saturday.
Dr. Mathis passed away on October 29, 2024 when the private plane he was piloting crashed in a mountainous area of Northern Arkansas. He was born on September 25, 1956 in El Paso, TX to Robert Earl and Margaret Phillips Mathis. Phil grew up in Corinth and graduated from Corinth High School in 1974. He attended Mississippi State University, graduated from The University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine and completed his surgery residency at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Mathis practiced General and Vascular Surgery in Tupelo and Corinth for 35 years.
Phil married his high school sweetheart Cindy Little on June 7, 1980. They were blessed beyond measure in their marriage and in the raising of their three boys. Family always came first, and he loved being involved with his boys’ sports and activities. This continued with his grandchildren as you could find him on a ball field or attending a ballet recital most nights of any week.
Phil loved his church! He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Corinth where he sang in the Adult Choir and sang bass with the Men’s Quartet. He loved sharing Southern Gospel music with this group. He was also an ordained deacon.
Dr. Mathis retired in July of 2022. He loved his work, but he said he was really good at retirement! He loved sharing his passion for hunting, fishing, and flying with others. He especially enjoyed being at Pickwick Lake watching his children and grandchildren on the water. He taught everybody in his boat to ski, whether they wanted to learn or not! He was sure they would like it! He worked tirelessly to make sure everything was ready for everyone to have fun!
Phil leaves behind his wife Cindy, his sons Taylor (Kellie) Mathis, Ben (Casey) Mathis, and John (Betsy) Mathis, all of Tupelo, and eight grandchildren – his pride and joy – Morgan, Millie, Mary Phillips, Luke, Madeline, Ellie, Maggie, & Alexander. He also leaves behind his sister Meg (Jon) Scales of Birmingham, AL, his brother Mark Mathis of Corinth, an uncle Jimmy (Jeanella) Mathis of Cochise, AZ, and his father-in-law Taft Little of Corinth.
Phil is preceded in death by his parents, his mother-in-law Janie Little, and his grandparents Hoyle and Lois Phillips and Lex and Eleanor Mathis.
The family would like to thank the kind people of Stone and VanBuren counties in Arkansas and Lexington Baptist Church for their love and hospitality shown to us during this tragedy.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in his honor can be made to First Baptist Church, Transformation Ranch, or a charity of your choice. Magnolia Funeral Home has been honored to serve the family of Dr. Robert Phillips (Phil) Mathis.
