Zelma (Garrett) Phillips

Zelma Garrett Phillips was born November 6, 1937, in the Honey Creek Community of Fentress County, TN.  She and her husband Russell, working together, outfitted many homes in the area with their expert sewing skills.  Zelma will be remembered by many for the delicious food (especially chicken and dumplings) provided for various occasions as well as to minister to the sick.  Her last act of love was to sew and distribute (always free) face masks for anyone needing them.  Several hundred masks were picked up from her carport throughout the pandemic.

In 2021, her cancer journey began.  She faced it bravely and praised her Lord to the end.  

Zelma was a member of the Helenwood Baptist Church and greatly enjoyed many years of fellowship and worshipping with her Church family.

Zelma was preceded in death by her husband:  Charles Russell Phillips; parents:  Rev. Omar and Effie (Collins) Garrett; two infant siblings; sisters and brothers-in-law:  Bertie (Ralph) Chambers and Beatrice (Junior) Lewallen; one brother:  Roy Garrett; brother-in-law and wife Mendle (Elsie) Phillips, and sister-in-law:  Bonnie Foster.

Zelma is survived by her children:  Allen (Kathy) Phillips of Helenwood; Terri (Dwight) Murphy of Winfield; six grandchildren:  Ashlee (Chris) Tabor of Kettering, OH; Jordan (Matthew) Sims and Blake (Gracie) Murphy, both of Winfield; Erika (Brian) Bradley and Melanie (Cody) Laverdiere, all of Knoxville, and Cole Murphy of Brooklyn, NY; fourteen great-grandchildren; special nieces:  Connie (Gilbert) Phillips, Leslie Phillips, Linda Barton, and Cricket Boyles; nephews:  Jerry Foster and Charles (Bud) Garrett; as well as many other family members and friends.

The family would like to recognize some very special people in her life:  Brenda Smith, who has been a wonderful friend to our mother throughout her illness.  We cannot thank her properly.  Shyanne Reynolds, the sweetest and most loving caregiver in her last months; Mary Beckley and longtime friends to both her and our dad:  Carl and Sherry Shafer, Freddie and Josetta Griffith, O. B. Cotton, Sheila Ipock, Loyd and Betty Stephens, Arnold Stephens, Sharon Keeton, Fran Grooms, Faye Bayles and Becky West.

Friends may visit with the Phillips family on Thursday, March 7, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. until time of funeral service at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Jones and Son Funeral Home with Bro. Kevin Sexton and Bro. Charles Goad officiating.  Music will be provided by Loyd and Arnold Stephens and Greta Laxton and Sujon Fry.

Committal service will be held on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in the Daniel Memorial Cemetery in Helenwood, TN.  Pallbearers will be:  Cody Laverdiere, Elijah Murphy, Chris Tabor, Blake Murphy, Matt Sims, and Alex Tabor.

Jones & Son Funeral Home is serving the family of Zelma Garrett Phillips.

THIS OBITUARY IS COURTESY OF JENNINGS FUNERAL HOMES.

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