Philip Alan Acord
Philip Alan Acord was born August 12, 1946 in Charleston, West Virginia, and spent his childhood in nearby St. Albans. After graduating from St. Albans High School in 1964, he then moved to Chattanooga, to attend Tennessee Temple University, where he obtained a B. A. in Psychology and completed 30 hours of graduate work in Organizational Psychology. At Temple, he met the love of his life, Paulette Grider Acord, who he married on June 4, 1966.
After graduating from Tennessee Temple, Phil served in the Army, in Alaska, from 1969-1971, where he achieved the rank of Sargent E-5. He later worked in the Hamilton County Detention Unit and Juvenile Court as a Probation Officer. Realizing that he wanted to impact the lives of children and youth before they got to the detention unit, he accepted a position as Associate Director of what was then called the Children's Home in 1971.
Phil took over as executive director in 1976, and began his vision of how the venerable agency could serve even more children and families. Under Phil’s leadership and collaborations, the Chambliss Center for Children grew to include off-site child care centers, school-based sites, and additional programs that serve almost one thousand children each year combined. Phil was a big believer in advocacy and was involved with multiple state and regional associations as well as countless local, state, and national boards. He served as President of several of the organizations and also as Public Policy Chairman, due to his love for policy and advocacy. Phil was a graduate of the first class of Leadership Chattanooga in 1984-1985 and was part of the first class of Commissioners appointed to the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth (TCCY) by Governor McWherter in 1988. He would go on to serve as Chairman from 1993-1996 and be re-appointed to the Commission by Governors Bredesen and Haslam.
Phil received many awards for his incredible work including the Jim Pryor Child Advocacy Award from TCCY in 2003, Outstanding Member Award from Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA) in 2010, Services to Children Award from the Tennessee Association for the Education of Young Children (TAEYC) in 2010, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare (TCSW) in 2012, and the Linda O’Neal Lifetime Achievement Award from TCCY in 2020. In 2017, SECA named an award in his honor for his outstanding service and commitment. The award is given each year to recognize the outstanding contributions by a male in the field of early childhood education.
Phil celebrated 50 years of service with Chambliss Center for Children on Nov. 21, 2021, and retired on Dec. 31, 2021. At that time he was honored by both the Mayor of Hamilton County and the Mayor of the City of Chattanooga who gave him a key to the City. He received accolades from across the nation from Senators, Representatives, and well-known child advocates and leaders.
Phil was predeceased by his mother and father, Pauline and Woodrow Miller.
He is survived by his wife, Paulette, and son, Alan both of Chattanooga, his family in West Virginia- sister Martha (Freddie) Harless, brother Woodrow Jr. (Woody), sister Elaine (Tom) Gillispie, brother Mark, Uncle Phillip “Sonny” Eastep, Aunt Peggy (Eastep) McCormick, Aunt Esta Miller, sisters-in-law Jackie Tally of Birmingham, AL and Annette (Pete) Rice of Tucson, AZ, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is also survived by his life-long friend Michael (Mike) Mullins. Phil loved all living creatures and cared for many cats, dogs, and birds. Surviving him are Ricky, Lucky, Bear Bear, Kitty, Fuzzy Tail, Gray, OJ, and Stubby.
Phil loved working in the yard, playing golf, fishing and, most of all, playing a family game of Wahoo in which he hated losing. He never met a stranger, and lived his life always looking for ways to help and uplift others. He was quick to share whatever he had that someone may need or want, and never failed to support those he loved. Phil was involved at his church, Woodland Park Baptist Church, was a member of the Shepherd’s Heart Class, and served on the security team. He had a gift for serving others and was often found doing volunteer work projects both alone and with members of his Sunday School class after his retirement.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 8, at Woodland Park Baptist Church, 6735 Standifer Gap Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421. Visitation will be on Thursday, March 7, at the church from 4–6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his memory to Chambliss Center for Children, 315 Gillespie Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37411, chamblisscenter.org
Visit www.heritagebattlefield.com to share condolences with the family.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory, Battlefield Parkway.