Mary Alice Phillips Wortham

Mrs. Mary Alice Phillips Wortham, 80, transitioned on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at Baptist Hospital, Oxford, MS.

Mary Alice Phillips Wortham was born on December 18, 1942, in Taylor, MS, to the late Edgar Phillips, Sr. and Eveline Fondren Phillips.

Mary Alice accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and joined East St. Peter M.B. Church in Abbeville, MS, where she remained a faithful servant unto death. She previously served on the Usher Board and actively served on the Mother’s Ministry as a Church Mother.

Mary Alice received her early education from Lafayette County Schools. Post school training, she held several jobs in the factory industry until she found her passion in floral design.

In her early career, she worked alongside her mother and older sister at Oxford Floral and later became employed at The Flower Mart until it closed. She became acquainted with the Watt Family and became a longtime employee at University Florist where she remained until her retirement. Her work and talent in the floral design business was admired by many. After her retiring from University Florist, she became a volunteer foster grandparent at North Mississippi Regional Center providing services to children and adults with special needs.

Mary not only had a love and talent for floral design, in her spare time she enjoyed cooking, traveling, spending time with family & friends, shopping and more shopping. She also had a love for sewing. She was a talented seamstress, but it was not until later in life she unveiled her hidden talent for quilting, making some of the most admirable quilts anyone could imagine and winning numerous awards & recognitions for her work. She was an active member of Oxford-based Piecemakers Quilt Guild.

Mary Alice was united in marriage to the late Ruben Henry “Pug” Wortham, to this union together they raised eight children. She was a loving and devoted mother, always putting her family first, and found great joy in each moment she spent with them.

On the morning of Thursday, October 5, 2023, at Baptist Memorial Hospital North MS, she gained her heavenly wings. She closed her eyes from this earthly journey to begin her eternal life. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Katie and Irene; three brothers, Albert, Wilma and Edgar, Jr.

She leaves cherished memories to her loving children; three sons, David Phillips (special friend, Patricia Parham) of Oxford, MS; Henry Louis (Peggy) Wortham and Timothy (Uta) Wortham both of Indianapolis, IN; five beautiful daughters, Katherine Frierson of Covington, GA; Elaine Clark, Earnestine Wortham, Marilyn (Marvin, Sr) Smith and Lakesha Wortham all of Oxford, MS; two sisters, Fronnie Market of Taylor, MS and Peggy Brown of Oxford, MS; three brothers, Percy (Bonnie) Phillips, Leodis Phillips of Oxford, MS and Jimmy Phillips of Indianapolis, IN; twenty-two grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, beloved relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 13, 2023, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at Serenity Funeral Home Chapel, 294 Highway 7 North, Oxford, MS 38655.

Services will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., at East Saint Peter M.B. Church, 274 County Road 215, Abbeville, MS 38601.

Burial will take place in the church cemetery

Arrangements entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home of Oxford, MS

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