Reverend Lesly Carlisle Phillips passed away at his home Saturday, February 7, 2009.

He was born October 6, 1925 in Italy, Texas to Henry Thomas and Eunice (Mahone) Phillips. He attended schools at Center Point, Hamrock and Italy.
While growing up he worked on the home farm and layed phone cables for the telephone company.

He joined the U. S. Navy on December 9, 1944, and served in the Phillippines area. Honors received were the Victory Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Ribbon and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. He received his discharge on July 13, 1946.

He married Neita Fern Southard of Avalon on October 28, 1946 in Italy, Texas. They had been married for 54 years. They have seven children, nineteen grandchildren, two step grandchildren, twenty-five great grandchildren, two step great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

He was ordained into the Baptist Ministry on July 19, 1955. In 1956, he furthered his education at the Jacksonville Baptist College, and was pastor at Stone Heights Baptist Church in Henderson. In 1959, he moved back to Italy and went to work for Tyler Fixture and became pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church in the Mountain Peak Community. He began working for the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation on March 23, 1960, as an officer manager. He assumed the duties of maintenance construction foreman of the Ellis County Waxahachie Maintenance section on January 1, 1965. He remained in that position until his retirement on December 31, 1985.

He served for twenty-five years as Sunday school teacher at Sardis Baptist Church, where he continued his dedication to God and church. His interests were church, family and fishing. He was Raised to the Degree of a Master Mason in Midlothian, Lodge No. 584 on November 29, 1965

He was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Eunice Phillips, his wife Neita Fern Phillips, one brother and three sisters. He is survived by his children Beverly and her husband Richard Heath, Lesly and his wife Belinda Phillips, Sheila Davis and her fiancè Jimmy Pittman, Gary and his wife Rhonda Phillips, Becky and her husband Joe Smith, Calvin and his wife Dawn Phillips, David and his wife Shari Phillips. Two brothers and a sister, J. T. and his wife Mary Dee Phillips, Jerry and his wife Sue Phillips, Virginia Ann and her husband Mac Lee, nineteen grandchildren, two step grandchildren, twenty-five great grandchildren, two step great-grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Sardis Baptist Church, 5148 FM 875, Waxahachie, Texas 75167.

Services were Tuesday, February 10, 2009 under the direction of Wayne Boze Funeral Home in Waxahachie, Texas. www.waynebozefuneralhome.com