Carl Phillips

Mr. Carl Johnson "CJ" Phillips, age 79, of Covington, died Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke.
Mr. Phillips was born May 27, 1945 in Virginia, the son of the late Carl Graham Phillips and Ina Johnson Phillips. A lifelong resident of the Potts Creek area, he was a graduate of Boiling Spring High School where he was a highly sought after recruit and earned a scholarship to play college baseball. CJ went on to have a successful baseball career at East Tennessee State University before graduating with a bachelor's degree. Mr. Phillips taught at Falling Spring Elementary School before deciding to follow his true calling, working on his family's farm. Carl considered himself a farmer, cattleman and gardener - he enjoyed watching for and couldn't wait for that first ripe tomato. However, he continued to share his love for sports and teaching by coaching youth baseball.
A true sports fan, CJ loved watching the Washington Redskins and Virginia Tech Hokies as well as watching ESPN and golf. His understanding of statistics and analytics in relation to sports was astounding. An avid hunter, CJ enjoyed hosting rabbit hunts as well as hunting deer on his beloved family farm. Mr. Phillips also loved bass fishing and had a passion for participating in numerous local and national bass fishing tournaments.
His friends were like family to him and he always enjoyed SuperBowl Sunday parties, annual rabbit hunts, card games, sharing good meals and talking on the phone with his friends. Mr. Phillips was captivating to listen to and spent his life studying the world around him especially the weather and the atmosphere then sharing his findings and experiences with his friends whom he truly loved. CJ will be missed by the lucky group of individuals who truly knew and appreciated this incredibly talented and intelligent man.
He was a member of Persinger Memorial United Methodist Church.
Mr. Phillips is survived by a number of cousins and some lifelong special friends, Robert Campbell, Tommy Hubbard, Mike Taylor, Ray Deisher, Gary Hinkle and Jacob Wright.
A funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, July 23, 2024 from the chapel of Loving Funeral Home with Rev. David Brown officiating. Interment will follow in Johnson, Helmintoller and Plymale Cemetery, Castile Road, Covington,
The family will receive friends on Tuesday afternoon from 11:30 A.M. until time of service at Loving Funeral Home.
Arrangements are being handled by Loving Funeral Home; to view Mr. Phillips memorial tribute page, please visit www.lovingfuneralhome1913.com.