William Wayne Phillips, age 80 of Bear Creek, Alabama passed away November 13, 2024.
Visitation will be Monday, November 18, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Pinkard Funeral Home, Haleyville, Alabama. Funeral service will begin at 1:00 p.m. with Levi Sides, Benjamin Phillips, Vance Hutton and Lee Barnett officiating. Burial will follow in Bear Creek Cemetery.
Mr. Phillips is survived by his wife, Dorothy Jane Tucker Phillips; sons, Stephen Phillips and wife, Heather Allen Phillips and Bryan Phillips and wife, Rachel Valentine Phillips; brother, Stewart (Dorothy) Phillips; sister in law, Margaret Phillips; grandchildren, Faith Phillips Keeton and husband, Daniel Keeton, Matthew Phillips, Joshua Phillips and Maya Phillips; great grandson, Ryker Keeton; and several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his father, Horace Gray Phillips; mother, Lenora Gertrude Stewart Phillips; and brother, James Phillips.
William Wayne Phillips attended Phillips High School in Bear Creek and was the Valedictorian of his high school class in 1962. He graduated from Florence State Teachers College in 1966 with a teaching degree with a major in Biology. He graduated from Auburn University in 1968 with a Master’s degree in Biochemistry.
Wayne taught Biology, Chemistry, and other sciences at Phillips High School from 1968 – 1994. He also taught some classes at local community colleges. Wayne sponsored a variety of school events/programs, but his favorite was working with students on science fair projects.
He began preaching at Mountain Home Church of Christ around 1974. He led singing and taught Bible classes. He was a spiritual man who was faithful in attending church and willingly helped those in need in the community. He enjoyed attending many local gospel meetings.
He enjoyed gardening and usually had a garden in the summertime. He gave away most of what he harvested and probably enjoyed that more than growing the vegetables. He made the Best homemade rolls, and he would generously share those with friends and family.
He had an interest in genealogy and family history. His great-grandfather was John R. Phillips, and his great-grandmother was Mary Evelyn Roberts Phillips. He was proud of the fact that Mary Evelyn gave the land for the school at Bear Creek – hence the name “Phillips High School.”
He and Jane were married for 55 years and had a wonderful marriage. He would often compliment her cooking. He enjoyed spending time with his family and especially his grandchildren. He and Jane would drive to Huntsville, Greenhill, Texas, and Panama City to baby sit and spend time with the grandkids. They all loved their Grandaddy!
