Phillip Andrew Merrill

Phillip Andrew Merrill, born on May 7, 1953, died on November 24, 2024. He was 71. Mr. Merrill was predeceased by his parents, Sammy G. Merrill and Lorraine Mann Merrill of Beaufort. He is survived by his wife Dena Shaw Merrill of Lilburn, Georgia, who lovingly and valiantly cared for him during the long ordeal of his illness. Other surviving family members include his father-in-law Charles T. Shaw and stepson Quentin C. Fleming, both of Atlanta, Georgia; Phillip's brother, Sammy R. Merrill and sister-in-law Betty Merrill of Fredericksburg, Virginia; his sister Mary Merrill Hansen and brother-in-law Larry Hansen of Bend, Oregon; his nephew Austin Merrill of Brooklyn, New York; his nieces Lindsey Forsythe and Julie Scher of St. Petersburg, Florida; and niece Elizabeth Merrill Solano of Hyattsville, Maryland.

After high school, Phillip attended Lenoir Community College and later received his B.S. In Electronics Engineering Technology from DeVry Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Known by family and friends alternately as "Phil" or "Andy," he spent most of his life working in suburban Atlanta, but his heart remained in his birthplace, Beaufort. Andy was a man of imposing size and had played a little football, but as a gentle soul, his heart was not in the game. What he loved most was being in and on the water and he did this frequently as he plied the backwaters and tidal flats near various sloughs, fishing and floundering around the "Haystacks," and water skiing (before wake laws) on Taylor's Creek (the Cut) with his best friend Steven Stanley. Afterward, enjoying an adult beverage at the Dock House seemed the appropriate, almost requisite thing to do. This was his version of "loving life and living large."

Andy also had a fine bass voice which he used even as a teenager to the great advantage of the adult choir in the Beaufort Baptist Church and later at Avondale Estates First Baptist Church near his home in Atlanta. He particularly enjoyed singing anthems of the gospel variety.

When his brother's and sister's children came along, he was frequently there to play, tease, and roughhouse with them. The kids always cherished their time with Uncle Andy (or Phil).

He worked for Scientific Atlanta and later with Allgood Pest Solutions.

Now his suffering is over, and Andy's family and friends already miss this big, kind man. May you rest in peace. We will always love you.

Mr. Merrill will be laid to rest in Beaufort, NC in the spring.

Those wishing to make a charitable contribution in his memory can donate to:

Emory University

Office of Gift Records

1762 Clifton Rd. NE

Suite 1400

Atlanta, GA 30322-4011

Include in memo: Department of Neurology

in memory of Phillip Andrew Merrill