Mrs. Luverne Phillips, 85, of Ellaville, died July 19 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, Albany. The daughter of James Edgar and Claudie Dudley Owens, she was born in 1923 in Houston County, Ala., She worked with her husband in Phillips General Store in Ellaville and was a homemaker. Mrs. Phillips attended the Ellaville/Schley Co. Senior Center and was a member of Unity Christian Fellowship Church. She was preceded in death by husband Robert Averett Phillips and son Billy Wayne Phillips.

Surviving are daughters Dedra Gilley and husband Bob of Tampa, Fla., Frances Heath and husband Ronnie of Ellaville; sons Averett Phillips and wife Brenda of Ellaville, Benny Phillips and wife Alice of Covington, Earl Phillips and wife Barbara of Powder Springs; sisters Wylene Holmes of Panama City, Fla., Ann Burke of Okeechobee, Fla.; brother Bobby Owens of Columbus; nine grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held July 20 at Unity Fellowship Church, Ellaville, with the Rev. Clifford Braxton officiating. Interment followed in the Ellaville Cemetery. Pallbearers were Greg Phillips, Glen Phillips, Kenny Phillips, Jamie Raybon, Gene Heath, Julian Krevere and Lee Guest. A guest book is available at www.watsongiddensfuneralhome.com.