Loyce Evelyn (Shirley) Phillips

Loyce Evelyn (Shirley) Phillips of Hiawassee, Georgia passed away on September 25, 2024 while surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Hollywood, Georgia on October 18, 1938, daughter of the late Bernard Taylor Shirley and the late Claire Scott Shirley. She was preceded in death by her brother, Scott Bernard Shirley.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Morris Alexander Phillips. Three sons: Dwayne Anthony Phillips (Lisa); David Alexander Phillips (Debbie); Steven Keith Phillips (Emily); Stepdaughter Marsha Elizabeth McClure (Cline). Nine Grandchildren: Blake Phillips (Julia), Eli Phillips, Zoe Phillips, Megan Phillips Eyrich (Jonny), Dillon Phillips, Evan Phillips, Logan Phillips, Alex McClure (Elizabeth), Sarah McClure Brewer (Terry). Four Great Grandchildren: Kaden Phillips, Kelsey Phillips, Willa Eyrich, and Hadlee-Grace Brewer. She is also survived by her sister, Sybil Smith, and brother, Charles Shirley, and many nieces and nephews.

Loyce attended, and was a faithful member and pianist of, Friendship Baptist Church where she held the office of Treasurer. Loyce became a skilled musician by learning how to play the piano on a paper keyboard. One of her most prized possessions was her Mason & Hamlin piano. Over the years, she has faithfully played at church, for the Hiawassee Baptist Association, taught lessons, and served as accompaniment for the singing group “The Cheerful Sounds.” 

Loyce was both a boarding student and graduate of Tallulah Falls School. She attended cosmetology school in Marietta. After getting married and moving back to the mountains of Hiawassee with Morris in the late 60’s, she opened Ye Olde Beauty Shoppe. Though she liked to say she was retired, she could still be found in her shop cutting “one of the boy’s hair.”

Loyce lived a full rich life. Morris and Loyce were known for creating some of the first Georgia Mountain Fair souvenirs. They made wooden airplanes, trains, wishing wells, and moonshine stills - all turned on a wood lathe out of laurel that Loyce engraved Georgia Mountain Fair with a wood burning pen. Loyce loved line dancing, and she taught a class for years. She loved to crochet, work crossword puzzles and sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, and never missed her nightly Wheel of Fortune at 7:00. She loved to cruise, travel the country in their motor home, work in her rose garden, and took any chance she could to brag on her boys and grandchildren.

Her family will never forget special memories made every Christmas Eve, summers spent at “the lake,” riding all over the hill with her in her golf cart, picking and singing around the piano, and Nenaw’s famous chocolate pound cake. Loyce was loved by many and will be sorely missed by all.

The family will receive friends at Friendship Baptist Church Fellowship Hall on Sunday, September 29, 2024 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. with the funeral service following with Pastor Stan Wood officiating.

Interment will follow at Burch Cemetery. 

Blake Phillips, Eli Phillips, Dillon Phillips, Evan Phillips, Megan Eyrich, and Zoe Phillips will serve as pallbearers, with Kelsey Phillips, Kaden Phillips, Logan Phillips and Willa Claire Eyrich as honorary pallbearers.