Phillip C. Caulder, Jr.

With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Mr. Phillip C. Caulder, Jr., the former owner of Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home.

Funeral services to celebrate his life and legacy will take place at 11:00 am on Monday, December 29, 2025, at Pine Grove Baptist Church. The service will be officiated by Pastor Mark Phillips and Brent Taylor, with a committal service to follow in the church cemetery, led by Pastor Danny Malloy.

To allow friends and the community to pay their respects, Mr. Caulder will lie in repose at Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Saturday, December 27, 2025, and again on Sunday, December 28, 2025.

The family respectfully requests privacy during this time of mourning and will not be receiving visitors at their home. Condolences, flowers, and other expressions of sympathy may be directed to Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home.

Mr. Caulder was born January 8, 1957, in Chesterfield, SC, a son of the late Phillip Caston “P.C.” Caulder, Sr. and Betty Lou Brown Caulder. He was a proud 1975 graduate of Chesterfield High School. He received his Mortuary Science degree from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, GA where he served as class chaplain.

His life of serving others was shaped at an early age as he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, the late Reverend Grover Cleveland “Preacher G.C.” Caulder as he served local churches in Chesterfield County. Phillip was known to sing, lead in prayer, and serve as an usher as a young boy.

At the young age of 14, local funeral director Tom Miller approached Phillip’s father, P.C. and asked permission to hire him for summer help around the funeral home. Mr. P.C. replied, “Take him and try him, he will either be a funeral director or a Baptist preacher!”

On June 10, 1971, Phillip’s ministry began at Miller-Rivers Funeral Home as he was mentored and trained by Mr. Tom Miller and Mr. Don Rivers who saw the calling on his life to the funeral service ministry. Upon Mr. Miller and Mr. Rivers’ retirement in 1988, Phillip and his wife, Yetive, purchased Miller-Rivers Funeral Home and changed the name to Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home.

A life of dedicated and selfless service to others, Phillip devoted his entire life to helping others in the most difficult times of their lives. A man of strong faith and genuine compassion for others, Phillip possessed a God-given gift of providing a calm solace and gentle spirit in the midst of grief. From offering a word of encouragement, a soft-spoken prayer, an appropriate laugh, or a very detailed description of his favorite meal, he was truly a friend to everyone, no matter their creed or status. Phillip never missed an opportunity to engage in conversation.

Beyond his life of service to his fellow man, Phillip was a pillar of faith. A man of prayer and conviction, he unashamedly expressed the love of God to everyone he came in contact with. He was a lifelong faithful member of Pine Grove Baptist Church, where he served as Deacon, worship leader, children’s sermon presenter, building committee chairman, and choir and music director for 28 years.

A leader in the funeral profession, Phillip was a member and former chairman of the Pee Dee Funeral Directors Group of the SCFDA, a member and past president of the South Carolina Funeral Directors Association, a member and past committee member of the National Funeral Directors Association, and a former member of the South Carolina Board of Funeral Service. He was twice recognized as the Pee Dee Funeral Director of the year by his colleagues.

A servant of his local community, Phillip served as a member and former chairman of the Chesterfield County voter registration (ballot accountability), member of the Chesterfield Masonic Lodge #220, member and former president of the board for Hospice of Chesterfield County, member and former chairman of the Mercy in Me Free Medical Clinic, and on the McLeod Health - Cheraw advisory board to which he was recently reappointed. He served as a former Chaplain and member of the Chesterfield Fire Department with over 38 years of service and dedicated over 16 years to the Chesterfield Rescue Squad.

Phillip is remembered fondly for his role as a devoted grandfather. Just days before his passing, he expressed, “Of all the things I’ve ever done, being a Pop Pop filled my heart.”

In addition to his parents, Phillip was reunited in heaven with his sisters, Penny Caulder Dixon, Pat Caulder Thompson, and husband Terry, and Peggy Jean Caulder Harding.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Yetive Watson Caulder; son, Cas (Sydney) Caulder of Patrick, SC; daughter, Calyn (Nate) Coyle of Chesterfield, SC; his grandchildren, who were his pride and joy, Emma Lynn Caulder, Watson Coyle, Mason Coyle, and Lawson Caulder; sister, Sissy (Harold) Adams of Chesterfield, SC; his “adopted” son and family, Brent & Brooke Taylor and daughters, Anna Belle & Ava; brothers-in-law, Cotton Dixon (Teresa) of Chesterfield, SC, and Reverend Howard Harding of Laurinburg, NC; beloved aunt, Trena B. Curtis of Chesterfield, SC; family members of the heart, Azilee Myers, Tillie & Richard Scott, and Tim & Lori Burch; in addition to numerous nieces and nephews and his extended family at Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Travis Novinger and the staff of Palmetto Family Medicine; the staff of McLeod Health – Cheraw with special recognition to the incredible ICU staff; and hospice nurse, Stacy Lynn Beaver for their extraordinary care and support provided to Phillip and his family.

For those who wish to honor Phillip with a memorial donation, the family suggests donating to the church that he loved and served, Pine Grove Baptist Church, 293 Zoar Road, Chesterfield, SC 29709.

It is an honor to take care of our friend, mentor, and leader. 

Sincerely, Brent, Brooke, and the Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home family.

www.mrcfuneralhome.com