PHILLIPS

John Daniel “Dan” Phillips Jr., 58, of Bennett, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, with his wife by his side. He went to sleep peacefully at his home in Bennett and woke up in his new home in heaven.
In fulfillment of his wishes, Dan’s body was cremated. A memorial service was held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at Joyce-Brady Chapel, in Bennett. The family greeted friends from 5 to 6:45 p.m. prior to the service and at other times at his home.
A private ash scattering celebration of life ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, March 16, at his home, at 23901 N.C. 902.
He was born June 27, 1953, in Siler City, the son of Johnny and Peggy Phillips, of Siler City. His father preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Dorthy Jones Ritter Phillips; his faithful and loving mother, Peggy Phillips; two sons, Shane and Travis Phillips; two brothers, Ted and Kim Phillips; three stepsons, Eric, Darrell and Farrell Ritter; and eight grandchildren.
He was a graduate of Jordan Matthews High School and attended Greensboro Business College and Randolph Community College with a certification in basic law enforcement. He was a retired detective with the Carthage Police Department.
Dorthy would like to thank those who meant so much to Dan during his sickness. It has been said that one little spark of kindness may be all it takes to reignite the light of hope in a heart that is blinded by pain. God is the gift of true love and true friendship. To Dan and Dorthy’s church family at Beulah Baptist Church, to Dorthy’s school family at Bennett School and the Chatham County School System, to Dan’s co-workers at the Carthage Police Department, to our Christian friends at Bennett Baptist Church, and to all the other faithful friends and family who were there to build Dan up spiritually, emotionally, and physically and who gave him the strength, the encouragement, and their love to fight his illness right to the bitter end, thank you.
Thank you for being there to pray with him, to talk to him, to cry with him, and to listen to him. Thank you for helping to make his last days here on Earth as comfortable as possible. Thank you for showing your Christian love by ministering to our family through the kind deeds you bestowed on our family and for helping Dan forget about his illness for a little while.
Thanks to Dan’s very special friends Jerry Russell, Brant Phillips, Charlie Sessoms, Curtis Powers Jr. for their faithful visits and phone calls that helped to brighten his days during his long illness. Thanks to his mother, Peggy Phillips, his aunt Frances Fields, and his cousin Chris Fields for spending time with him and being a special blessing to him.
Thanks to Johnny, Tami, Tanner and Macy Henson for their visits at the beach and the laughter and fun times they shared with Dan on those warm nights last summer. Thanks to Billy Jean and Andrew Brewer for making his home accessible and easier for him to live in as his condition deteriorated. Thanks to Punk Cox for always being there for Dan and Dorthy and willingly doing whatever was needed.
To Dan’s stepsons, Eric, Darrell and Farrell Ritter, and their wives and children, his sister-in-law Mary Sue Maness, and friend Theressa Goldston, Dorthy thanks all of you for making it possible for her to provide the care Dan needed to keep him at home during his long illness. A very special thanks to his son and daughter-in-law, Shane and Jodie Phillips, and their two sons, Carter and Westin, for their love, support, help and many acts of kindness and pardoning Christian love. It was through each of you and through Dan’s wonderful attitude in his willing acceptance of his illness as being the unconditional will of God for his life that Dorthy was given the supreme strength to provide the health care he needed to keep him as comfortable as possible until the very end.
A very special thanks to the ALS Clinic at Duke, to the Chatham County Council on Aging, and to Sandy, Emma, Kristal and all the team at Community Home Care & Hospice of Chatham County, and to Dr. Hoffman and his staff for their dedication in providing care and support to Dan and his family.
By his own confession of faith and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, Dan is now at rest in heaven and is able to walk again and stroll around heaven with his father, Johnny, and his family and friends who have gone on before him.
Online condolences may be made at www.joycebrady chapel.com.
Joyce-Brady Chapel in Bennett is serving the Phillips family.