William Rowe Phillips was born in Wylam, Alabama, in 1938, the son of Ruby and Morris Phillips.

After graduating from Birmingham Southern College, he married the love of his life, Nancy Glasgow Miller, and in 1960 they moved to Decatur, Georgia, where Nan graduated from Agnes Scott College and where Bill earned a Master of Divinity at Emory University's Candler Theological Seminary. It was in Atlanta that they met Coretta Scott King and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, whose courage inspired their lifelong commitment to civil rights and racial equality.

Over the next forty years Phillips worked as a pastoral counselor and marriage and family therapist, serving in Methodist parishes early in his career, and later as director of the Atlanta Psychiatric Clinic, where he and his partners did pioneering work in the practice of Experiential Psychotherapy. He was also founder and director of the nonprofit Foothills Counseling Center in Clarkesville, Georgia, which provides counseling to all, regardless of income.

Even after retiring from his therapy practice and moving to Jekyll Island, Phillips remained deeply involved in the community, and in 2001 he became the first minister of the Unitarian Universalists of Coastal Georgia. Bill was also a dedicated member of both the Glynn County Democratic Party and the Brunswick chapter of the NAACP, where he continued to work for civil rights, racial equality, and social justice.

Phillips is survived by his wife Nan Phillips of Jekyll Island, Georgia; brother Larry Phillips of Leesburg, Florida; daughter Rachel Hayden of Kensington, Maryland; and sons James Phillips of Wildwood, Florida and Patrick Phillips of San Francisco, California. He also leaves behind sisters-in-law Emily Hightower and Linda Phillips; daughters-in-law Paula Phillips and Ellen Brazier; and son-in-law Jeff Hayden; as well as eleven beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Lauren, Jacob, and Emma Phillips; Sam, Tess, and Henry Hayden; Sid and Cam Phillips; Sloane and Asher Phillips; and Lilly Phillips-Hatcher.

Bill Phillips was a loving husband and father, a fiercely loyal friend, and a tireless fighter for the causes he believed in. The family will host a celebration of his life and indomitable spirit at 2pm on April 20th, 2024, at Old City Hall, 1229 Newcastle Street, Brunswick, GA 31520.

Brunswick Memorial Park Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family.