Juanita S. Phillips was born 20 July 1933 to Willie Mae and John Henry Smith in Selma, AL, the third of seven children. Juanita grew up in Selma and did all other things that young children do. At an early age she joined Shiloh Baptist Church and was very active. After graduation from high school she attended Alabama State College (now Alabama State University) and graduated with a degree in Business Administration and Accounting and a minor in Education. Shortly after graduation she married her high school sweetheart, Leroy O. Phillips and they travelled around the continental United States and Europe until Leroy retired from the US Army. She still loved to travel and was off and running at every opportunity that she got. She is the mother of two children, Adrienne Leronette Phillips-Brown, Ronald Lydell Phillips and the grandmother of one, Arissa Rhiannon Brown. When Leroy retired the first time they settled in Kansas for a while. Prior to Leroy’s retirement and after his retirement, she matriculated with Ward Chapel AME Church in Junction City, KS where she served as an Usher, Steward, and Chair of numerous events. Upon the birth of the only grandchild, they relocated to South Florida where they resided for a number of years. Here Juanita was a member of Mt Hermon AME Church where she served as an Usher, a member of the Finance Committee, a Steward, a Stewardess, and served on numerous Boards and acted as Committee Chairs. After her retirement as a Comptroller in the Department of Treasury, the family relocated to the Cordova area. Upon arrival in Tennessee they joined St Andrew AME Church where she was serving on the Usher Board and participating in several ministries in the Church. She was also active in her Sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and served on the National Leadership Team, on several Regional Leadership Teams, a State Coordinator, and Collegiate Advisor. Multiple times Juanita served as a chapter president, vice president, treasurer, financial secretary and as a member of various local chapter committees. She is also a Chartering Vice President and a sixty year plus Delta. In the Memphis Alumnae Chapter, she served on the Delta Dears, Founders Day, Jewel Court, Membership Services, Internal Audit, Policies & Procedures, Rituals and Ceremonies and as the Co-Chair of the Protocol Committee. She also served as a member of the Regional Leadership and the TN State Teams Protocol Committees. She leaves to mourn her husband, Leroy O. Phillips, two children, Adrienne Leronette Phillips-Brown, Ronald Lydell Phillips and one granddaughter, Arissa Rhiannon Gonzalez. She also leaves three sisters, Marvarene Parker, Alma Jean Brazier and Dorothy Smith. She also leaves some special family members, two sister in laws, Barbara Phillips and Mildred Smith, one brother in law, Lester Phillips and several nieces and nephews. She also leaves some special friends: Mrs Donna Blackwell, Memphis, Milton & Berlin Ellerson, Ft Lauderdale, FL and members of her church and special members of her Sorority and surviving members of The Old Timers Reunion Group.

A public viewing is scheduled Thursday March 25, 2021 from 4 pm until 6 pm with a service of celebration on Friday March 26, 2021, 12 pm both at R. S. Lewis and Sons Funeral Home 2944 Walnut Grove Rd. Entombment will follow at Memphis Memory Gardens 6444 Raleigh Lagrange Rd.