James Richard Phillips of Brookhaven died peacefully on Nov. 27, 2012, at his home at the age of 67. He was born in Orange County, Calif., on Feb. 3, 1945, to Marion and Thomas Phillips. The funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. The Rite of Committal will be at Riverwood Memorial Park. Riverwood Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

     Visitation is Friday from 5 until 7 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with the vigil for the deceased beginning at 7:30 p.m.

     He was an active member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church where he was a member of the laity and served as a lector and usher. He also served as president of the Parrish Council. Mr. Phillips was also active in his community where he served as president and vice president of the Exchange Club of Brookhaven. He also served as the State Director of the Mississippi Exchange Club. He was a member of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce. He served in the Mississippi Air National Guard. He enjoyed cars and racing and served as secretary of the Mississippi Sports Car Association. After retiring from Chevron in 1997, he worked at Phillips Bark Processing Company Inc. until 2007.

     Preceding him in death were his parents; and mother-in-law and father-in-law, Maude and Earl Smith.

     He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Smith Phillips; his daughters, Lori Phillips of Brandon and Christy Phillips Ketchum and husband, Dallis, of Jackson; his son, Richard Phillips, and wife, Amanda, of Herndon, Va.; four grandchildren, Ashli Phillips, Pierce and Eloise Ketchum, and Mallory Phillips; his siblings, Janice Phillips, Danny Phillips and wife, Wendy, David Phillips and wife, Jimminette, Bill Phillips and wife, Kathy, and Susan Smith and husband, Mark; a host of nieces and nephews; stepmother, Jean Phillips; and sister-in-law, Patricia Henning and her husband, Les.

     The family wishes to thank the staff at Southern Care Hospice for the care and support they provided Mr. Phillips.

     In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Francis of Assisi Church Food Pantry or The Gideons International (gideons.org).

     To express your thoughts to the family, you may visit riverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave a comment.