Madge Johnson Phillips, 94, of Columbus, N.C., passed away Sunday morning, January 1, 2017 in Smith Phayer Hospice House in Landrum, S.C.

Born in Rutherford County, N.C., she was the daughter of the late John Thurman Johnson and Annie Bell Harton Johnson. Mrs. Phillips was a member of Silver Creek Baptist Church where she was choir director for many years and a daily attender of The Meeting Place in Columbus, N.C. In her spare time, she loved reading, walking, singing and sewing. The joy of her life was her family and all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Grady Russell who passed away in 1982 and Melvin “Monk” Phillips who passed away in 2006; one daughter, Diane Lanford who passed away in 2010.

Surviving is one son, Nick Russell (Margie) of Sylva, N.C.; one grandson, Jonathan Derek Russell (Kelli) of Mill Spring, N.C.; one granddaughter, Alana Lanford Gossett (Lee) of Inman, S.C.; seven great-grandchildren, Samantha, Sarah, Scarlet, Rebecca, Rachel, Tanner and Alivia; one sister, Wanda Moose of Taylorsville, N.C.; one step-son, Larry Phillips of Tryon, N.C. and his family. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 4, 2017 in Silver Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Rob Hefner and Dr. Chris Osborn officiating.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends prior to the service Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the church.

Memorials may be made to Silver Creek Baptist Church Building Fund, 1955 Silver Creek Road, Mill Spring, NC 28756.

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.

McFarland Funeral Chapel
Tryon, N.C.