Obituary

Phillips, Grover Leland, Mrs. (Annie Thomas)

ABERNATHY -- Services for Annie (Mrs. Leland) Phillips, 105, of Abernathy, Texas, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 11, 2017, in the Abernathy First Baptist Church with Rev. Mike O'Donnell and Rev. Gene Hawkins officiating. Burial will follow in the Abernathy Cemetery under the direction of Abell Funeral Home & Flower Shop of Abernathy. The family will gather to receive friends Wednesday, May 10, 2017, from 5-6:30 p.m. at Abell Funeral Home.

Annie was born in Millsap, Texas, March 5, 1912, to John and Myrtie (Lamar) Thomas. She passed away May 8, 2017, at the age of 105.

She moved with her family to Odell, Texas, in 1922 and graduated from Odell High School in 1930. She married Leland Phillips in Altus, Okla., Nov. 19, 1932. They moved to Abernathy in June 1951 and became a member of the First Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School until 2007. She was very active in the Women's Missionary Union (WMU) and the Lubbock Baptist Association.

While Leland was associated with the Abernathy Co-op Gins, she became famous for her "Brownies and Cookies" that she prepared for the customers and Dee Palmer. She was active in the Women's Cotton Association and served her community as Abernathy City Hostess from 1970 until 1980. In honor of her 100th birthday, the Abernathy City Council honored her with "Annie Phillips Day" on March 5, 2012. She was further honored as the Grand Marshal of the July 4, 2012, parade by the Abernathy Chamber of Commerce.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Leonard and sister, Bertha and her husband Leland, June 2000.
She is survived by a son, Jerry A. Phillips and wife Lyn of Lubbock, Texas.

The family suggests memorials be sent to the First Baptist Church, 411 7th St., Abernathy, TX 79311 or Hardin-Simmons University, Class of 1967 Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 16100, Abilene, TX 79698.