Preston Lee Phillips

Preston Lee Phillips was born on December 20, 1920 to his parents Ernest Lee Phillips and Mary Francis Reed in Gloucester, Viriginia. He attended Gloucester Training School and during high school worked with his father cutting timber. In 1940, at the age of 20, he moved to Steubenville, Ohio, where he lived with his sister Augustine Terry and her husband Cartrell Terry. While in Steubenville, Preston worked several years in the dry cleaning business. In 1944, he moved to Philadelphia to live with his sister Margie Driver and her husband John Driver. There, Preston met his first wife Hazel Lee. They moved to Trenton, New Jersey and he began working for General Motors in 1954. Their marriage gave birth to two boys Preston Phillips, Jr. and Shelton Phillips. He continued to work and live in Trenton until 1979. During the time in Trenton, he experienced a divorce and met his second wife, Evelyn Harris. Preston retired from General Motors in February 1979, and he and Evelyn moved back to Shackleford, Virginia. He enjoyed many years of retirement there and spent countless hours partaking in boating, fishing and hunting outings with his many friends at the Tri-County Hunting Club. Preston departed this life on Sunday, February 10, 2013 in Columbus, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Phillips, and sisters, Helen Davenport, Margie Driver, Hattie Carey, and Augustine Terry. He is survived by two sons, Preston Phillips, Jr. and Shelton Phillips; sister Emma Jane (John) Wiggins of Columbus, Ohio, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.