Edwin Phillips Obituary

Edwin "Ed" James Phillips of Taylors, SC, passed away on May 12, 2025. Ed, or as his family affectionately called him, "Big Daddy" was born December 17, 1931, in Hartwell, GA to the late Dewey and Chloe Phillips.
For 76 years, Ed was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Frances Jenkins Phillips-a loving father and a faithful follower of Christ, whose life was marked by unwavering love and steadfast faith. A passionate student of scripture, he quickly became a respected church leader, sharing his gifts as a singer and choir director. For over 30 years, he led choirs at three churches, most recently at Groveland Baptist.
One of his greatest joys was serving at Miracle Hill Rescue Mission for over almost 70 years. For 30 of those years, he led the choir, while his wife, Frances, played the piano for the Overcomers, a Christ-centered recovery program for men battling addiction. In recognition of their unwavering commitment to service, Ed and Frances were honored with the prestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service in 2004.
On most days you could find "Big Daddy" and his shovel digging in the yard.
Ed is survived by his wife, Frances, three children, Johnny (Kathy), Donnie (Gwen), and Chris (Rosalyn); his 11 grandchildren; and 22 great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.
In addition to his parents, Ed was preceded in death by his siblings, Gladys Tallent and Bruce Phillips.
A visitation will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025, from 11:45 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. at Groveland Baptist Church with the funeral service to follow at 1:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. Entombment will be held at will be held at Graceland East Memorial Park in Simpsonville, SC.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to Miracle Hill Overcomers program by visiting www.miraclehill.org/shelters/overcomers or to Groveland Baptist Church by visiting www.grovelandbc.com.
Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Ed with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory."