Winnie Phillips
Winnie Meagher Cross Phillips, 96, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, April 20, 2017.
A tireless advocate for educational causes, she was a Hamilton County teacher for more than two decades. As a teacher at Whitwell High School, Sale Creek High School, Daisy Junior High School, and as lead teacher at the Sequoyah Head Start Program, Winnie was a lifelong learner who considered teaching a true calling.
She was a long time member of Red Bank Baptist Church, where she carried her love of children and teaching into service with her church, as teacher of the Beginners pre-school class for twenty-five years. For six decades she faithfully served her Lord and His people of that congregation as a member of the Electa Sunday School Class, Mission Awareness Leader, and participant in the Prime Timers Senior Adults Group.
Winnie was a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who enjoyed traveling, but was happiest when in her Red Bank home among family, neighbors, and friends. Her love of Christ, commitment to helping others, and inspiring influence were blessings to all who knew her.
The daughter of the late Arch Webster Meagher and Winnie Layne Meagher, she was born on October 23, 1920, in Birmingham.
She was preceded in death by her two loving husbands, George Washington Cross, Jr., and Willard Norman Phillips as well as, her brothers Arch and Charles Meagher.
She is survived by her three children, George Michael Cross, Susan Cardwell, and Willard Norman Phillips, Jr.,(Janice); grandchildren, Trevor Cross (Bonnie), Lindsay Cross; Andrew Phillips, Natalie McCallum (David), Jill Quinn (Sean), and Sarah Akes-Cardwell (Amanda); and great-grandchildren, Miriam Cross, Oakes Cross, and Benjamin McCallum; several nieces and nephews.
Winnie's family extends heartfelt thanks to her devoted caregivers, Beulah Nolan, Dana Danforth, and Mary Reed, for their loving care and support in recent years. They also extend their thanks to all her neighbors, especially Jill Hayworth; the Bankston, Moore, and Marlin families, for their friendship and many acts of kindness.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 25, at 2:30 p.m. in the chapel of Lane Funeral Home, with Bill Harvey officiating.
The family will receive friends from 1–2 p.m. on Tuesday, in the funeral home.
A private burial will precede the services.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga.
Arrangements are by Lane Funeral Home, Ashland Terrace, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, Tn. 37415, 423 877-3524, www.lanefh.com.