Margaret C. Phillips

Margaret C. Phillips, 100, of Fountain Hill, died Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at the Ashley County Medical Center in Crossett. Mrs. Phillips was a native of McGehee and a resident of Fountain Hill for most of her life. After she graduated from Arkansas A&M, now the University of Arkansas at Monticello, with a degree in Education, she taught at the college for two years. After college, she began a long and distinguished career teaching in Desha County for a few years before coming to Fountain Hill, where she taught for over 15 years. Mrs. Phillips then continued her education, received a biology degree, and taught at the Hamburg School District from 1957 until she retired from teaching in 1988. She was awarded the honor of Teacher of the Year during the 1985-1986 school year. She was a well-respected educator who never had problems maintaining discipline with her students. While an educator, she also worked in the afternoon at L.M. Phillips General Merchandise Store, which her late husband and his brother started. After she retired, she became the full-time owner and operator of the store and helped keep Fountain Hill alive by keeping the store open. The store was a dependable source of goods and a gathering place for the Fountain Hill community. People could come and get anything from plumbing supplies to their morning cup of coffee that she always had prepared. While at the store, she always had her very protective Border Collie, Chloe, with her and was able to keep the store open until her early 90s, when she had to close due to her health issues. She was described as a matriarch of Fountain Hill, a member of the First Baptist Church of Fountain Hill and was loved and respected by everyone in her community and the surrounding areas. Her remarkable friendship with her caretaker, Mrs. Lummie Wright, was a true testament of friendship. After Mrs. Lummie could not care for Mrs. Phillips, her daughter, Audrey Williams, continued the loving care that her mother began. Mrs. Phillips had a good sense of humor and loved a good joke. She enjoyed farming, crafting, and watching Gunsmoke and the Golden Girls on television.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Lucian Millard Phillips, Sr., in 1979; her only son, Lucian Millard Phillips, Jr. in 1973 and her second husband, Charles Lee Phillips in 1993; her parents, G.K. and Lucy Cherry Chennault and four sisters, Cherry Frances Chennault, Billie Chennault Stanford, Frances Chennault Nichols, and Lillian Chennault Tuller.

She is survived by her sister, Pam Melton of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; two nieces, June Stanford and Tina Nichols, both of McGehee; two great-nephews, John Devin Smith of Wrightsville and Alan Smith and wife, Mary, of Alexander; a great-niece, Lena Craig of Little Rock; her beloved caretakers, Lummie Wright and Audrey Williams, both of Crossett and her many friends.

Graveside memorial services are 10 a.m., Friday, April 14, 2023, at the Flat Creek Cemetery with Bro. Bill Elton officiating.