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On Friday, April 5, 2024, Joe H. Phillips, Jr. entered into eternal rest at the age of 84. Joe was born July 13, 1939 to the late Joe H. and Ruth Sego Phillips. Joe graduated from LaGrange High School in 1957, and continued his education at the University of Georgia where he received his undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Upon graduation, he went to work for Clemson Extension in Georgetown, SC. He moved to Conway, SC in 1969, and started the Forestry Department at Horry-Georgetown Technical College where he served as the Dean of Forestry until retirement in 1997.

During that time, he sat on numerous boards and received many awards. He had a profound impact on his students and developed lifelong friendships with many of them. After retiring he moved back to LaGrange.

“My Joe”, as he was known to his granddaughters, was a loving and devoted father, brother and friend.

He never met a stranger, loved to travel, was a plethora of knowledge and never passed up a yard sale. Joe could identify almost any tree and had over 100 different species planted on his property. He was an active member of Dallas-Dodd Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder.

Joe is survived by his son Elliott H. Phillips and his wife Elizabeth, granddaughters Adelia and Olivia Phillips, all of Mount Pleasant, SC. He is also survived by his sisters Joy Phillips Grote and Judy Phillips, nephews Stephen Grote and Chris (Sherri) Everett all of LaGrange, Georgia.

The family would like to thank “our guardian angel” Gayle Mayo, the staff at Poplar Creek Senior Care and the staff at West Georgia Hospice for providing such wonderful care to My Joe.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 19, 2024, at Dallas-Dodd Presbyterian Church 1244 Wares Cross Road, LaGrange, Georgia 30240.

Visitation begins at 11 A.M., service at Noon, with a reception following in the fellowship hall. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to:

HGTC Foundation Attn: Joe H. Phillips Forestry Scholarship, 743 Hemlock Ave. Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.