April Dean Phillips

March 26, 2019

April Dean Phillips, 51, of Bainbridge, Ga., passed away Tuesday, March 26, 2019.

The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 28, 2019, at Southwest Baptist Church with Rev. Jimmy Weaver, Rev. Steve Brooks and Rev. Robert Johns officiating.  A private interment will be held at Prosperity Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery with Chase Dean, Noah Phillips, Andrew Phillips, Tate Phillips, Chad Braswell, Ricky Harrison, John Watts and Johnny Wacaser serving as active pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at Southwest Baptist Church. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Southwest Baptist Church Youth & Children’s Building Fund, P. O. Box 7193, Bainbridge, GA 39818 or Prosperity Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, C/O Dorothy Morris, 369 Martin Road, Bainbridge, GA 39817.

April LaShelle Dean was born October 18, 1967, in Bainbridge, the daughter of Otis and Rudean Collins Dean. She was a graduate of Whigham High School. April graduated from Darton College with her RN and Albany State University with her BSN. She worked as a school nurse for Decatur County Schools and later as a quality manager for Memorial Hospital. She married Stanley H. Phillips in 1987 and served as a phenomenal pastor’s wife for 26 years. April was a member of Southwest Baptist Church.

Born with a feisty personality, April was kind sprinkled with stubborn. She could hold order and her close friends knew “don’t ask if you don’t want to know,” especially if you were shopping with her. She had a great sense of humor and was always laughing “with you”. Her family describes her as “fun and funny” which explains why she was the favorite aunt. April’s love language was gifts and she often did for others when she was in need herself. Macy was her most valuable treasure and Troupe, her favorite son-in-law. Back in the day Tom Petty probably had “Pearl” in mind when he penned these words: She’s a good girl, loves her mama, loves Jesus and America too. She was tough as nails and fighter until her last breath. April would say her faith and her family sustained her.

Survivors include her husband of 32 years, Stanley H. Phillips; her daughter, Macy Phillips Tabb and her husband, Troupe; her parents Otis & Rudean Dean; her brothers, Todd Dean and his wife, Melinda, and Chad Dean and his wife, Karla, all of Bainbridge; and a host of nieces and nephews.

The Phillips Family would like to extend special thanks to Mandy, Lynn and “Miss” Mary for their loving support.