Philip Michael Rees, 54, of Marietta, GA was called peacefully home on Monday, January 30, 2017 surrounded by family at Emory Hospice. He fought a valiant battle against multiple types of leukemia. A loving husband, father, “staddy”, brother, son, uncle, and friend. He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Heather Rees; the children both biological and the ones he raised, Samantha Rees (21), Veronica McCann (22), Hunter McCann (24), Leigh McCann (26) and Alexandria (Rees) Miller (29), (husband Andrew Miller); granddaughter, Savannah Miller; siblings, Cindy Rees and Rick Rees; and his father Don Rees. He is predeceased by his mother, Phyllis Rees.
Phil was born June 22, 1962 in Muncie, Indiana. He attended North Carolina State and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. from University of North Carolina Greensboro. He then went on to earn a J.D. from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Law School. On April 1, 1995 he and his ex-wife (Angela Bongiovanni) had their beautiful daughter Samantha. On May 30, 1998 he married his soul mate, Heather Brogdon Rees, and embarked on a journey raising 4 more children with Heather. He also built a successful company with his business partner, Jeff Andrews – which he said was his greatest accomplishment.
Aside from professional and family life, Phil was a drummer alongside his lifelong musical partner, Harold Muma, in The Dark Room. He spent weekends perfecting his golf skills with his neighborhood best friend, Whitney Fite, and weekly golf foursomes with Jeff Andrews, Bryan Boyd, and Chris Hayes. He was lucky enough to play golf in Scotland and Ireland with his traveling golf group which included his brother Rick Rees and best friend Paul Crooks.
Phil also changed children’s lives across the world in Romania and Estonia through Mission Trips that spread the word of God and helped build an orphanage.
He became culturally intellectual through leisurely travels with friends and family over the years to over 12 countries – yet somehow remained culinary un-refined, evidenced by the all-too-common “can I get a kids grilled cheese? I will pay extra”.
Phil saw all of his children head off to college and begin their individual journeys; a privilege that was afforded to him by crushing his CLL prognosis of 6-8 years back in 2000. He went on to live 16 more wonderful years and we are so grateful for each moment.
Phil was recognized as witty, sarcastic, sage, encouraging, and selfless, among other invaluable traits by all that knew him.
Rest peacefully our guardian angel.
He desired his Celebration of Life Service to be casual and upbeat. It will be held Saturday, February 11, 2017 at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church Sanctuary, 955 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, Georgia, 30068 at 10:00 a.m. with Reception afterwards in the Fellowship Hall.
NO FLOWERS OR PLANTS PLEASE (we have received so many beautiful arrangements already) as the family requests that in lieu contributions be made to the Bone Marrow Transplant Fund at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Memory of Phil Rees, Office of Gift Records, Emory University, 1762 Clifton Rd. NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30322. You may also donate at https://winshipcancer.emory.edu/support-winship/give/index.html or by phone by
dialing (404) 712-4483.
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