Bernice Phillips
Bernice Simpson Phillips of Chattanooga, passed away on Friday, August 2, 2013.
A resident of Southern Heritage Assisted Living in East Ridge, she was the only child of Richard and Willie Simpson and was born in White County, TN, on Feb. 26, 1919. At an early age the family moved to Chattanooga where her father went into the grocery business.
Bernice was educated in the city schools of Chattanooga and graduated from Central High School in 1936. She attended the University of Chattanooga and later had correspondence courses from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
She was employed in the office of Attorney Charles A. Moore before World War II, and later accepted a job with the U.S. Civil Service Commission in Washington, D.C. during World War II. After the war, she returned to Chattanooga and held a position with the Volunteer Ordinance Works and the Veterans Administration in Chattanooga.
Bernice is survived by twin sons, Larry (Gail) Phillips and granddaughters, Jennifer and Katie Phillips, of Chattanooga; Garry (Connie) Phillips of Hope Hull, AL and grandsons, Zachary, Fairfield, Iowa and Zane (Sune) and great-grandchildren, Mika, and twin grandsons, Taye and Kaii of Mobile, AL.
In 1948, she was employed with the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in Fort Oglethorpe, with 35 years of service. After retirement, she became secretary to the mayor and city clerk of Rossville. She volunteered her time at the Women's Center at Hutcheson Memorial Hospital for many years.
She was a member of the East Ridge United Methodist Church where at one time she sang in the choir. Before the merger, she belonged to the Ridgedale United Methodist Church, the Methodist Guild and the United Methodist Women and was past president for five years. She was a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class.
She belonged to numerous organizations. During the 1960's she was a member of the Audubon Society serving as Secretary for several years. She belonged to the Rossville Business Professional Women's Club, where she was named "Woman of Distinction." She was also an officer and a member of the Battlefield Pilot Club.
Bernice loved to travel. She was an avid fan of bus tours in the United States. She made tours to North and South California, Canada, the Eastern Shore, New York, Washington and Nova Scotia. She traveled to Europe four times, including England, France, Germany and Russia. She will be remembered for her smile and devotion to her family.
The family would like to thank the staff of Southern Heritage for their love and care.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6, in the East Chapel with the Reverend Ken Sauer officiating. Interment will be in the Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 5, at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 404 S. Moore Road.
Please share your memories at ChattanoogaEastChapel.com.