Helen Jones Phillips

Helen Marie Jones Phillips

Helen Marie Jones Phillips, age 85, of Columbus, MS passed away September 12, 2026, while surrounded by her beloved husband of 67 years, Oliver Lester Phillips Jr., her children, and many of her grandchildren.

Services will be held Wednesday September 16, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at First Methodist Church, Columbus with Rev. Dr. Vaughn Stafford and Rev. Nathan Phillips officiating; burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until service time at the church.

Helen was born in Union Chapel Community, Pickens County, Alabama on August 9, 1941 to Eula Mae Carson Jones and Richard Lester Jones, as the baby of their family of eight. She grew up in Pickens County, graduating in 1959 from Aliceville High School. After high school, she married her high school sweetheart, Oliver on August 15, 1959, and then attended Mississippi College for Women and The University of Alabama before fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a mother to three beautiful children--Gregory Lester Phillips, Sandra Marie Phillips and Kenneth Alan Phillips. Helen was a former member of the Belle Fleur Garden Club and a current member of Alabama Tide Pride Alumni Association and Methodist Women in Mission Circle 8. She was also a member of First Methodist Church and the Ivy Bible Sunday School Class for over 60 years. Together, Helen and Oliver owned and operated Plantation Pointe Retirement Community, consisting of The Windsor Place Nursing Center and The Arrington Assisted Living Facility. Helen was an avid Alabama Athletics sports fan and was a season football and basketball ticket holder. She and Oliver enjoyed attending basketball games with their dear friends, Jim and Anne Livings, where Helen could be found with Anne in the club room. Helen’s adventurous spirit led to many miles of travel logged all over the world and United States, especially out west with Oliver, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many dear friends, including Johnny and Polly Bishop. Helen will forever be remembered as a loving, precious, compassionate, consistent, patient and kind wife, mother, Mammaw, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.

Helen is preceded in death by her father, Richard Lester Jones, mother, Eula Mae Jones, brothers, Richard “Red” Jones, Philip Jones, Cliff Jones, and sister, Alma Clemmie Goodman. She is survived by her beloved husband, Oliver Lester Phillips Jr., her children, Gregory Lester Phillips (Toni), Sandra Marie Phillips, Kenneth Alan Phillips (Carmen). She is also survived by her seven grandchildren, Shannon Phillips Jones (Scott), Madison Phillips Smith (Matt), Avery Phillips, Carson Phillips, Olivia Phillips, Shelby Phillips and Taylor Phillips and her seven great-grandchildren, Blaine, Walter, and Levi Jones, Solomon, Theodore, Harbor, and Auguste Smith, along with her sister, Lily Zaiontz (Hank) and many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will include Carson Phillips, Blaine Jones, Walter Jones, Levi Jones, Ronnie Blakney, Chuck Goodman, Henry “Bubba” Zaiontz and Mike Jones with honorary pallbearers including Scott Jones, Michael Prince, Bart Wise, The Windsor and The Arrington staff, The Ivy Bible Sunday School Class, and the DPC lunch bunch.

The family appreciates the care and love Helen received from the amazing CCU doctors and nurses while at Baptist Memorial Hospital.

Memorials may be sent in lieu of flowers to First Methodist Church of Columbus, MS, 602 Main Street, Columbus, MS, 39701.