Mary Elizabeth Owen Phillips

Mary Elizabeth Owen Phillips, a lifelong resident of Jackson, Tennessee, passed away, on June 29, 2015 in the Jackson Madison County Hospital.Mary was born on August 1, 1929 to the late William Alvin Owen and Lola Key Owen. Mary received her education in Jackson City Schools, earning a classical High School diploma, which was awarded based upon her taking four years of Latin in High School. She later graduated from Lambuth College. While attending Lambuth College, Mary majored in chemistry and music, and assisted her piano instructor, Ms. Elizabeth Jarrel Fossey, in the musical building at Lambuth. Upon graduation from Lambuth College, Mary earned her medical Technology certification in Memphis from St. Joseph Hospital School of Medical Technology and was registered with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. On June 15, 1951 Mary was employed as one of the first laboratory Technologists in the newly established Jackson Madison County General Hospital. During her forty-three years of tenure, Mary worked in the Hospital Laboratory in all areas of clinical analysis and was a supervisor for the staff of the hospital lab. In addition, Mary instructed students at Jackson State Community college in Urinalysis.On November 12, 1951, Mary married Robert Phillips, a brick mason from Nashville, Tennessee. The marriage ceremony was held on a national television program "Bride and Groom" in New York City that was hosted by John Nelson. She returned to Jackson to work in the laboratory after her honeymoon in New York City. In 1953, Mary gave birth to Robert Levoy Phillips, Jr. Mary's second son, Edward Owen Phillips, was born on January 6, 1957.Mary's diverse hobbies and interests included gardening, playing piano, crocheting items for her friends, antique collecting and restoration. In addition to her work in medical technology she sold Luzier cosmetics and skin care products to her friends and associates as a love and a hobby. Mary was always supportive of her boys serving as mentor, cheerleader and Cub Scout den Mother. In her later years, she became an avid University of Tennessee Volunteers Football fan and supporter. Spiritually she was a Christian and a life-long member of West Jackson Baptist Church. After retirement, she regularly attended and was active in the First Baptist Church of Panama City Beach. In the 70's and 80's, Mary served as an active member of the American Business Women's Association. In that capacity she served as recording secretary, vice president and president of the Jax-Tenn Charter Chapter. She was elected as Jackson, Tennessee's "Woman of the Year", and during the same year she was elected as one of the top ten "Women of the Year" at annual ABWA convention in Las Vegas Nevada. She later served as president of the Jackson, Tennessee Sunlighter's Chapter of ABWA. While active in ABWA, Mary worked with the Educational Committee to obtain scholarships for young women attending colleges in the area, including her beloved alma mater Lambuth College.Upon her retirement in 1994, Mary spent most of her later years on Panama City Beach, Florida with husband Robert from four to six months a year and spending the remainder of those years at home in Jackson, Tennessee. During these later years, she provided in-home care at different times for two of her aunts and her mother while home and in Florida.Mary was preceded in death by her parents, W.A. and Lola Owen, and her late husband, Robert Levoy Phillips, Sr., who died in 2009. She is survived by her two sons, Bobby (Teresa) Phillips and Eddie Phillips. The family will hold a crypt-side service at Highland Memorial Gardens Mausoleum beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday July 3, 2015, after which she will be laid to rest with her husband Robert. The family will receive friends beginning at 1 p.m., one hour prior to the service at 2 p.m., in the mausoleum at Highland Memorial Gardens.The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.