Clodyne Griggers Phillips

On April 8, 2017, Angels rejoiced as our Lord and Savior called home Velma Clodyne “Clo” Griggers Phillips. She was born on June 19, 1918 to Daniel T. Griggers and Sarah Elizabeth Griggers. She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Julius “Phil” M. Phillips, Jr.; daughter, Helen Ann Matthews; son-in-law, Lewis Matthews; six sisters; and one brother. She is survived by her grandchildren, Mike (Roslyn) Matthews, Terri Matthews (Nick) Handey, Phillip (Adrienne) Matthews; great grandchildren, Leslie Matthews (Coleman) Moseley, Nicholas (Brooks) Handey, Mason Handey, Jennifer Matthews, Braxton Dorsey; and other relatives and friends. Clodyne was a loyal employee of the State of Alabama Department of Public Safety from 1968 to 1984. She was a longtime member of Eastmont Baptist Church. Her love of family and her faith in God was immeasurable, and all her family and friends held a special place in her heart. The family is grateful for the loving care that was given by Susan L. Holt, Linda Hale, Shaylia Simmons, and all the members of the Comfort Care family. Visitation will be held from 5:00 –7:00 PM, Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at Leak Memory Chapel. Funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM, Thursday, April 13, 2017 at the funeral home burial will follow Oakwood Annex Cemetery. In memory of Mrs. Phillips, the family will be accepting flowers or donations to Comfort Care Hospice of Wetumpka, AL.

Velma Clodyne Griggers Phillips was the youngest of 13 children. As birth order goes, she was baby sister to Ely, Tom, Lavine and Issac (Ike) (half brothers), Daniel “Dee” (died in the Stablers Hospital Fire, 21 years old, Greenville, AL 1921), Carrie Augusta (husband's William Monroe Hartley and Nicholas Grant), Hurley Clarence (wife Eva Irene Melton), Mamie Eula (husband Obie T Head), Jeannie Mae (husband Ivan Macon Jones), Eva Movell (husbands Evelyn Marcelous Hall and John Shaw), Vera Agnes (husband Charlie Cecil Boswell) and Ina Bell (husband James Dickson Benton).

From these sisters and brothers, came numerous nieces and nephews who absolutely love and adore her. Some have preceded her in death but those who remain and will miss her are Sarah Mae Head (as well as her niece, she was her constant companion, roommate and best friend), Dan Hartley, Carolyn Hartley Snyder, Betty Hall Cheek Crosby, Doris Boswell Newton, Joanne Hall Lowry and Mildred Boswell Conway. From these branches came numerous great nieces and nephews that hold “Aunt Clo” very close in their hearts. She loved and cherished them all. For such a petite lady, her heart was enormous and her passion for family so huge. She was the perfect example of “the Virtous Woman” described in Proverbs 31:10-31

We will miss her smile, her sweet southern charm, that precious laugh and her unfailing commitment to family. While we grieve our loss, we must remember, she is celebrating and reuniting with loved ones she has missed for so long. We can smile at that.