James Robert Phillips

James Robert "Bobby" Phillips, age 90, of Bear Creek died Saturday, September 26, 2020 surrounded by family at his home. Mr. Phillips was born March 21, 1930, a Chatham County native, and the son of Gurney Jackson and Elza Gaines Phillips. Bobby is preceded in death by his parents, a son; Cary Lane Phillips, brothers; Gurney Lewis Phillips, and B.F. Phillips and wife Hazel, and sister Betty Jean Rives, and grandson; James McLaughlin. Bobby loved spending time woodworking, tinkering with farm equipment, hunting, gardening and playing rook. You would always find him watching baseball, especially when the Atlanta Braves played. Bobby also had a love for good food. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Elmo Lou Ailiff Phillips, daughters; Martha Phillips Whisnand and husband Jon, and Joy Phillips Barbour and husband Dannie, sons; Landis James Phillips and wife Donna Dowdy Phillips, and Neal Clark Phillips, daughters in law; Tracey Boykin Phillips, Joyce Scott Phillips; sister; Mary Elizabeth Cox, sister in law; Jeanette Phillips, brother in law; Wilbur Rives, grandchildren; Kaycey McLaughlin, Jonathan McLaughlin and wife Raven, Jeffrey McLaughlin and wife Bambi, Jason Phillips and wife Tina, Joshua Phillips and wife Cindy, Nathan Phillips and wife Teri, Nina Keown and husband Daniel, Hannah Hancock and husband Jordan, Jacob Phillips and wife Andrada, Samuel Phillips and wife Hannah, great grandchildren; Aiden McLaughlin, Cassidy McLaughlin, Jackson McLaughlin, Tyler Madison, Kayleigh Bass, Reagan Phillips, Rebecca Keown, Luke Keown, Caroline Hancock, John Patrick Hancock, Maxwell Phillips, and Benson Phillips. Mr. Phillips will lie in state from 1:00-5:00 pm at Smith and Buckner on Sunday, September 27, 2020. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, September 28, 2020 at Fair Promise United Methodist Church Cemetery, 192 Glendon-Carthage Road, Glendon with Rev. Tom Hallberg officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Chatham County Council On Aging, P O Box 715, Pittsboro, NC 27312, Fair Promise United Methodist Church, or Liberty Hospice, 1005 Carthage St. Sanford, NC 27330. Smith and Buckner funeral home is assisting the Phillips family. Online condolences may be made at www.pughfuneralhome.com