Nell Phillips

Funeral Services for Nell Phillips will be held on Monday November 4, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. from McClain-Hays Chapel with Dr. Dan Howard and Rev. Evan Humphries officiating. Interment will follow in the Eastlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday November 4, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. until services at McClain-Hays.

Nell Drew Herrin Phillips, 87, of Philadelphia, MS passed away on Sunday, October 27, 2024, at Neshoba General Hospital, surrounded by her loved ones.

Nell was born August 29th, 1937, the daughter of Ralph and Bradis Stennett Herrin of Covington County, Salem Community, Collins, MS. Nell graduated from Salem High School in 1955, then went on to William Carey University, earning her bachelor’s degree in Home Economics. She later completed her graduate work at the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State University.

Nell married Andrew Frank Phillips on November 21, 1965, at the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia, MS with Pastor Roy Collum officiating. She was the mother of two children Andrea and Brent, mother-in-law to Timothy Chesney and grandmother to Skylar Breann Chesney.

Nell worked for the MS Cooperative Extension Service as the 4-H Agent from 1959 – 1964, then for the USDA with the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1964-1965. She returned to the MS Extension Service and served as Extension Home Economist for Neshoba County from March of 1965 to June 1986. While working as the Home Economist she received the State Distinguished Services Award, and National Distinguished Services Recognition in 1982. She was named Most Outstanding Extension Worker for 1986 by the First Mississippi Corporation. During her time as the Home Economist of Neshoba County Nell worked closely with community members. She officiated over the Neshoba County homemaker Clubs which included her presenting multi-disciplinary workshops each month. These presentations range from teaching public speaking, homemaking, landscaping, gardening, cooking, sewing, childcare, home/financial planning, crafting among a multitude of other topics. Nell enjoyed sharing her vast knowledge and experience with others. Due to medical reasons, She reluctantly retired early from the extension service in 1986. Nell loved watching basketball. In the years after her retirement, she was often given the opportunity to teach others how to cook, garden and care for a home.

Each year she especially enjoyed joining her family and friends at the Neshoba County Fair. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Philadelphia where she served as substitute teacher for Betty Nation’s Sunday School class. She served on the landscaping committee, the church council, was a RA subleader, a youth training union teacher, and a choir member.

Nell was a woman with great inner strength and grace. She was an inspiration to others, always smiling, finding blessings even in times of difficulty offering encouragement in her elegant soft manner. She loved teaching and sharing her vast knowledge with others. She was a woman with insurmountable faith. Nell once shared with Dr. Eugene Dobbs the Bible Verse 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 KJV which sustained her during her many surgeries, her recovery and throughout the rest her life as a paraplegic. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: Nell, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Andrew Frank Phillips, her daughter Andrea, son-in-law Timothy Chesney, her granddaughter Skylar of Brandon, MS; her sister Georgia Hinson of Anderson, SC; her brother Herman Herrin and his wife Sharon of Hattiesburg, MS; and a host of nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.

Preceding Miss Nell in death are her beloved son, Brent Herrin “Taco” Phillips, of Philadelphia, MS, her father Ralph Herrin, her mother Bradis Stennett Herrin both of Collins, MS; her brother-in-law Arlis Hinson, of Anderson, SC.

The pallbearers will be Bryant Lang, Clint Logan, Del Logan, Arthur McGee, Lee
Phillips, Heath Stribling; Honorary pallbearers are Layne Herrin and Scott Herrin.