Ellen Marie Phillips

Marie Phillips, 89, of Meridianville, Alabama, passed away on Friday, November 18, 2023.

Marie was born in Huntsville, Alabama, to Pearlie and Robert Landers on July 7, 1934. As a teen, she moved with her parents and younger brother to Georgia where her youngest sister was born.  She met her future husband, Nealon Phillips, in Georgia.  The Landers family returned to Huntsville in the mid-1950s.

Marie married Nealon on Dec 15, 1956 (deceased 2009) and moved to Meridianville where they made their home and raised their two sons.

Marie worked for the Office of Personnel Management for 34 years, starting out as a secretary and then later retiring as the administrative assistant to the Director of the OPM office at Redstone Arsenal.

Marie was a gentle, modest woman, devout in her faith in the Lord, steady and true in every aspect of her life.  She helped Nealon build two homes, doing everything from hammering, sawing, painting, and sanding to gardening and decorating their homes in her comfortable country style.  She enjoyed doing crafts, sewing, and canning vegetables from her large garden.
Marie loved the color red which could be seen by the car she drove and a pair of red leather booties she wore proudly.

Marie loved to fish and camp with Nealon, and they spent many years in the Scottsboro Goosepond community, making friends from across the US and fishing to their heart’s content.  Their yearly fish fry was a large informal gathering of friends and family who enjoyed the fruits of their favorite pastime.

After retiring, Nealon and Marie took yearly trips to visit other states with those friends they made fishing in Alabama, from Chicago to Pigeon Forge to Branson to Mobile, and all the places in between.

Marie is survived by her sons Douglas Phillips (Lorain Phillips) and Jamie Phillips (Peggy Phillips), grandchildren Sybrina Phillips, Joshua Phillips, Shannon Young, Chris Phillips, Lee Phillips, and Adam Phillips,11 great-grandchildren as well as her brother Leroy Landers (Donna) and sister, Iris Clark (Eddie).

Any who knew and loved Marie are welcome to visit with the family at 12 noon on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at Hazel Green Funeral Home in Hazel Green, AL.  Memorial service will start at 1 pm at the funeral home and will be officiated by Pastor Terrell Boyd of Lakewood Baptist Church where Marie worshipped for many years.  Following the service, she will be laid to rest next to her spouse of 53 years at Concord Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association in her name.

Hazel Green Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.