Katherine Wright Phillips

Katherine “Kay” Wright Philips spent her childhood on the beach, spent her final days in
the mountains, and lived her life everywhere in between. Born in 1921 in Jacksonville,
Florida to the late Gordon and June Wright, Kay passed away on February 5th, 2018, in
Black Mountain, North Carolina, near Montreat, her adopted “second home” for much of
her adult life.

Kay graduated from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, in May 1942, one day after becoming engaged to J. Davison Philips, who was a student at nearby Columbia Theological Seminary. They were married a year later, and remained each other’s faithful companions for the next 69 years, until Davison’s death in 2012.

Following their marriage and Davison’s tour as a Naval Chaplain, the couple moved to
Edinburgh, Scotland, where Davison pursued his theological education. While there,
Kay gave birth to their first child, J. “Jim” Davison Philips, Jr.

Kay and Davison’s daughter, June, and youngest son, Graham, were born in Thomasville, Georgia, where Davison was serving at First Presbyterian Church. Shortly after Graham’s arrival, Davison was called to Decatur Presbyterian Church in Decatur.

Kay and Davison would call Decatur home for most of the next 57 years, raising their three children, joining and supporting multiple church families, and becoming enmeshed in the community. Kay was a constant presence, partner, supporter, and advocate of Davison during his time as pastor at Decatur Presbyterian Church, President of Columbia Theological Seminary, and interim pastor at several area churches. She met some of her dearest friends through the many community groups she belonged to, including the local bridge club, book club and many church women’s groups.

A talented chef and tireless hostess, Kay catered countless dinner parties at her home for friends, family and church and seminary gatherings. The luckiest of these guests had the occasion to sit with her at her round oak dining room table, the one with the “Lazy Susan” on top.

In 1970, Kay and Davison bought a home in the Presbyterian community of Montreat, in the western North Carolina mountains near Asheville. Upon seeing the property for the first time – and assessing it’s “fixer-upper” condition – Kay sat on the front steps and wept. It would become, however, their second home, longtime summer destination, and a mountain mecca for three generations (and counting) of Philips descendants. Kay spent many hours there entertaining on her front porch, taking her grandchildren to feed the ducks at Lake Susan, or catching up with old friends after services at Anderson Auditorium. Later in life, she and Davison were affiliated with and were frequent Sunday attendees at nearby Black Mountain and Montreat Presbyterian Churches.

Kay was preceded in death by her husband, J. Davison Philips, her two sons, James “Jim” Philips, Jr., and Graham Philips, as well as her daughter-in-law, Marsha Loftis Philips.

She is survived by her daughter, June Peel, and son-in-law, Bob Peel, of Augusta, Georgia; her daughter-in-law, Donna Philips, of Highlands, North Carolina; her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many beloved extended family and friends.

The family would like to especially thank and recognize Darlene Myers of Black Mountain North Carolina, Kay and Davison’s longtime companion and caregiver, for her attentiveness, compassion, friendship and love.

A private burial will take place at the Decatur Cemetery, prior to a Memorial Service at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 24th at Decatur Presbyterian Church, 205 Sycamore St., Decatur, GA. Following the service a reception will be held in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Decatur Presbyterian Church, Columbia Theological Seminary or the Montreat Conference Center.