Rita Phillips Obituary

Rita Cohen Phillips Greenville, SC - Rita Cohen Phillips, 97, of Greenville, South Carolina, widow of Thomas Alexander Phillips, entered into eternal rest Thursday, September 23, 2021. Her funeral service will be held Sunday, September 26, 2021 in Carolina Memorial Gardens, 7113 Rivers Avenue at 11:30 a.m. The family will receive friends Sunday in J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Northwoods Chapel from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Rita was born August 17, 1924 in Norway, South Carolina, daughter of the late Moses Cohen and Mary Karesh Cohen. Rita belonged to Cooper River Baptist Church in North Charleston, SC. She was a past Queen on Milcah Temple #77, Daughters of the Nile; Past Royal Matron of Palmetto Court #1, Order of the Amaranth; and Past Grand Royal Matron of the Grand Court of SC, Order of the Amaranth. Rita was also Honorary member of General Shrine's Auxiliaries. Rita is received in her death by both parents; her husband of 63 years, Thomas Alexander Phillips, a past Potentate of Omar Shrine Center; and her three children: Linda Phillips Rheuark, Roger Harris Phillips and Thomas Gerald Phillips. She is survived by her six grandchildren: Troy Phillips of Charleston, SC, Robin White, Kim Rheuark both of Kinston, NC, Scott Phillips of Charleston, SC, Sharon Gilstrap and Thomas Phillips both of Greenville, SC; and 16 great-grandchildren. Rita's family moved to Eutawville, SC when she was a small child. She went all through school and graduated from the Eutawville High School. She always called Eutawville "God's Country." Rita married Thomas Phillips in 1941. She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Rita supported all three of her children throughout grammar school, high school and college. They volunteered her for everything - School mom, Den mother, Boy Scouts, Brownies, etc... No matter what challenges she faced in life, her positive attitude was always prevalent. Rita strongly believed she was always where "God" meant her to be. She was a blessed spirit with a talent for comforting others and had a God given talent for reaching out to others and making them feel wanted, loved and welcomed. Rita never stopped embracing life and all the blessings it had given her. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Milcah Temple #77 Daughters of the Nile, 176 Patriots Point Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 or to the Cooper River Baptist Church, 1059 Crawford Street, North Charleston SC 29405. Written by Rita Phillips. A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com. Visit our guestbook at legacy.com/obituaries/charleston