Philip E. Street, 66, died of complications from Covid-19 on Saturday, November 27, 2020 in a Chattanooga hospital. He is a lifelong resident of Dade County where he attended school and graduated in 1973. He managed the family business, Street Hardware, until he became sheriff in 1985. As a business man in Trenton, he became a volunteer firefighter, which led to his interest in law enforcement. He was elected five times as sheriff, making him one of the two longest serving sheriffs’ for Dade County. For the past seven years he continued his career in law enforcement serving as captain of the Walker County Detention Center. He also served as a board member of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force.
He was a Christian and a member of Trenton United Methodist Church where he was the chair of the trustees. He served in many civic volunteer roles including the Georgia Sheriff’s Association, the Georgia Sheriff’s Association Youth Home and the Children’s Advocacy Center Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit.
Philip gave his professional and personal time freely to activities involving children and youth. As an avid Dade County fan, he took special pleasure in escorting sports teams to region and state play-offs. The DARE Program was something he believed in and worked to provide for the children of Dade. Trenton’s Hope for the Holidays program is an outgrowth of a similar program that was initiated by Philip and his staff. The Emergency Management Program and 9-11systems were managed from their inception in his department.
Philip had hundreds of friends and if you were his friend you knew it. He probably called you on the phone at some random time on the way home from work. Philip was funny and charming but you never doubted what he thought on any subject. If you didn’t agree, it didn’t matter he was still your friend. He was a man of action and doing nothing was not easy for him. Many who loved him can attest to the fact that he was great to have around in an emergency. He went out of his way to help people. He loved college football, NASCAR, Dade County, his friends and his family.
He was predeceased by his father, Donald E. Street.
His survivors include his wife, Sherry Lake Street; daughter, Jordan (Dustin) Powell; his step-son, Corey Cresswell; his mother, Elizabeth Wallen Street; his sisters, Donna Street and Kate (Michael) Cammack; his brother, Tracy Street; and his niece, Caroline Cammack. There are a host of much-loved cousins and relatives.
The funeral service will be held outdoors on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at the Dade County Justice Building. Visitation will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The service will follow at 1 p.m. The Reverends Reece Fauscett and Dennis Flaugher will officiate. Burial will follow the service at Lake Hills Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Philip to one of the following: Georgia Sheriff’s Association Youth Home, Trenton United Methodist Church or Dade County Sheriff’s Hope for the Holidays Program.
Guests are requested to wear masks and social distance. The service will also be live-streamed by Moore Funeral Home at www.discoverdade.com/moorestream.
The family would like to thank the nurses and doctors at Memorial Hospital who labored so hard to save Philip’s life.