Virginia Connolly Phillips

Virginia Connolly PhillipsVirginia Connolly Phillips, 85, died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, at home in Canton.Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Canton.She was born March 5, 1924 in Laurel, to Madeline and Peter Joseph Connolly. She graduated from George S. Gardiner High School and Jones Junior College.On May 22, 1948, she married her beloved sweetheart, William Barnett Phillips. In 1955, they moved to Canton where together they started their business, Barnett Phillips Lumber Company. Virginia and Barnett were active members of the Mississippi Building Material Dealers Association where they both served as President. She was a member of Grace Episcopal Church for twenty-seven years where she served as President of the Women of the Church. She was also a member of the Altar Guild, served as youth leader, taught Sunday school, and sang in the choir. Through her love of Canton she became active in the community. She served as President of the Maids and Matrons and was a Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader. She was also a member of the Canton Chamber of Commerce where she was instrumental in starting the Canton Flea Market, and was named Woman of the Year. Active in the Daughters of the American Revolution, Virginia was a past Regent. She was also a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Virginia enjoyed many happy days playing bridge with her bridge club. Together, she and Barnett were charter members of St. Stephen's Reformed Episcopal Church in Flowood. She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-four years, William Barnett Phillips; her parents, Madeline and Peter Joseph Connolly; her brothers, Edwin Phillips Connolly and Peter Joseph Connolly; and her sisters, Patty Connolly Overstreet and Mary Connolly Harvey.Virginia is survived by her daughter, Madeline Phillips Morris and husband Ken of Canton; her daughter, Deborah Phillips Walton and husband Mark of Seminole, FL. She is also survived by her granddaughters, Davin Morris Ford of Jackson and husband Webster, currently serving our country in Iraq; Jessica Walton of Atlanta, GA; and Claire Morris of Canton. Her family and friends will remember her fondness of sharing childhood memories and her love for her country. Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Breeland Funeral Home in Canton. Memorials may be made to the William Barnett Phillips Education Fund at First Baptist Church 3316 S. Liberty St, Canton MS 39046 and St. Stephen's Reformed Episcopal Church 5049 Lakeland Dr, Flowood MS 39232. To sign or view the family guestbook, visit www.leadercall.com Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at First United Methodist Church in Canton.