Rebecca Philips

Funeral service for Rebecca Phillips will be conducted 11 AM Saturday, June 8, 2019 at J.O. & Annette Smith Memorial Chapel, 307 S. Johns St., Florence. Interment will follow at Sunset Memory Gardens directed by Smith Funeral Home of Florence, LLC Rebecca “Big Sister” Phillips was born September 21, 1930 in Durham, North Carolina to the late Harry Phillips and Beatrice Waring Phillips. On Friday, May 31, 2019 at the age of 88, she fell asleep in death. Rebecca was raised in Florence County, South Carolina and attended Public School at Tans Bay School in Effingham, South Carolina. As a young person, she took good care of her siblings and was called "Big Sister" a name that she carried throughout her life. Rebecca relocated to New York City, there she worked on various jobs. She was a diligent worker and took her jobs seriously. She worked as custodian at Columbia University for 35 years before she retired. Rebecca enjoyed doing community work in her neighborhood of Manhattan, New York. She loved to travel and was an avid shopper and loved to dress. She loved her family and would stay in contact with them and invited them to certain events that she would host. Unfortunately because of her failing health Rebecca returned to Florence, South Carolina, where her sister Leila took care of her until the end of her fulfilling life. Rebecca was one of nine children and in addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by four brothers, Frank Phillips, Isaac Phillips, Johnny Phillips and Henry Philips; and one sister, Hattie Mae Thomas. Rebecca is survived by her three sisters, Maime Phillips of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lillie Grant of Florence, South Carolina and Leila Hines of Florence, South Carolina: two sisters-in-law, Delores Phillips of Florence, South Carolina and Bernice Phillips of Florence, South Carolina; one brother-in-law, Eugene Thomas of Springfield, New York and a host of nephews; nieces; cousins; and other family members The family will receive friends at 3205 E. Skylane Dr., Florence. Send flowers to the service of Rebecca Philips