John Kirby Phillips, 90, of Salisbury, North Carolina, passed away on February 24, 2025, at Trinity Oaks Senior Living Center, five weeks after the passing of his beloved wife of 66 years, Julia Faye Sutton Phillips.

John was born on a farm near Zebulon, North Carolina on January 20, 1935, to James Alga Phillips and Mattie Lois Pearce Phillips. He was raised in the Zebulon area where he worked on the farm, enjoyed being a part of a large (10-child) and loving family, played football (team captain 1952) and other sports for Zebulon High School, and worked multiple outside jobs.

When John was 13, his older brother, Kin, joined the Navy and John became the primary farmhand. He quickly decided that there had to be another way for him to earn a living, and he focused on his education. He received a football scholarship to attend Chowan Junior College and graduated in 1955.

Following graduation, John enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After Basic Training, John received additional training in the Washington, D.C. area where he earned Top Secret military clearance. One autumn night in 1955, he attended a dance in Washington and met a beautiful nursing student named Faye, who was also part of a large (13-child) and close-knit Sampson County farm family. Their common backgrounds and values drew them together and Faye became the love of his life.

In 1956 and 1957, John served his country in Japan. While he was stationed overseas, he and Faye wrote each other countless letters. After receiving his honorable discharge, John returned to North Carolina. John and Faye married in Zebulon on April 12, 1958, and were completely devoted partners for the rest of their lives.

John began his career at Carolina Light & Power Co. In 1970, John returned to college, with Faye’s support, and earned an engineering degree. After graduation, Southern Bell Telephone Co. hired him, and he worked for Southern Bell until he retired.

An avid fisherman, John and his family often vacationed at North Carolina beaches, where John fished and taught his children and grandchildren to respect the water, the intricacies of fishing, and how to catch sandfleas. While John fished, Faye read or walked on the beach wearing John’s white Navy dixie cup cap. John and Faye took turns watching the children swim and play.

John and Faye loved to travel. Together they visited 48 of the 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and 8 continental European countries. They enjoyed taking months-long journeys across the United States, once driving as far as Mount McKinley, Denali, Alaska. They remained each other’s best friend until Alzheimer’s Disease overtook Faye. John’s devotion to Faye never wavered.

When asked how he wanted to be remembered, John said he couldn’t think of anything, but he quickly listed Faye’s accomplishments.

Though he left the farm, the farm never left John. Well into his 80s, he planted a vegetable garden every spring and shared his bumper crops of tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, butterbeans, and string beans with friends and family. Always an engineer, he designed and built an irrigation system that watered his crops without wasting a drop of water.

By example, John taught his children and others that faith, family, serving others, and the bond of your word are the most important aspects of one’s life; that fairness, devotion, honor, integrity, and honesty are never negotiable; that each person is a child of God and entitled to dignity and respect; and that strength is measured by how many others you help lift up, and never by how many you push down. He lived these beliefs throughout his life. He was also a Master Mason for over 60 years and served many others through that brotherhood. He often quoted his favorite poem, “The Bridge Builder” by Will Allen Dromgoole. He embraced and lived the message that we are to make a difference in the lives of others by selflessly caring for them and choosing to build bridges to unite people.

In addition to Faye and his parents, John was preceded in death by 4 siblings: James McKinley “Kin” Phillips, Thelma A. Phillips Baker, Alice Faye Phillips Wester, and Jake Lee Phillips, Sr.

John is survived by his and Faye’s 3 children, Lisa Joye Phillips Williams (Walt) of Irmo, S.C.; Kirby Todd Phillips (Harriett) of Concord, N.C.; Mary Beth Phillips Griffin (Jeff) of Concord, N.C.; 7 grandchildren, Shelley Jessica Williams of Irmo, S.C.; Justin Phillips Kuykendall Williams (Catherine) of Raleigh, N.C.; McLeod Kirby Phillips (Anne) of Booneton, N.J.; Matthew Jesse Williams of Irmo, S.C.; John Bullock “Jack” Phillips of Concord, N.C.; Katherine Noel Griffin of Rome, Italy; and Aubrey Jane Griffin of Concord, N.C.; 1 great-grandson, Phillip Alexander Williams of Raleigh; 5 siblings, Joseph Alga Phillips (Mary Alice) of Wendell, N.C; Jack Wendell Phillips (Faye) of Wendell, N.C.; Peggy Ann Phillips Johnson (Sammy) of Middlesex, N.C.; Jessie B. Phillips (Sarah) of Arden, N.C., Jarvis Jay “Sam” Phillips of Zebulon, N.C; a sister-in-law, Janet Faulkner Phillips of Bunn, N.C.; numerous Sutton sisters- and brothers-in-law; and dozens of nieces and nephews and their spouses and children.

A celebration of John’s life will be held later this spring when the weather is warmer, and the days are longer.

Their family especially thanks the Staff at Trinity Oaks for caring for John and Faye since 2020 and for the countless words and acts of support, concern, and kindness that everyone at Trinity Oaks demonstrated daily.

In lieu of flowers, John’s family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of his wife, Julia Faye Sutton Phillips.

Carolina Cremation is assisting the Phillips family. Online condolences may be at www.carolinacremation.com.