Martha Bell Climer Phillips, 89, of Reagan passed away Sept. 18, 2023, at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Funeral services were 11 a.m. Friday at Shackelford Funeral Directors – East Main Chapel with Randy Hart and Sam McAdams officiating. Burial followed in Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery. The family received friends at East Main Chapel from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday.
She was born Dec. 28, 1933, in Reagan in Henderson County, the daughter of the late Dexter Franklin and Gertha Barker Climer.
She married J.P. Alexander on July 12, 1947, and they made their home in the Cabo Community. Mr. Alexander passed away on May 10, 2005. She later married Jerry Phillips.
She worked at Salant & Salant in Henderson. She moved to Chicago for 11 years and then returned to Chester County. She and Mr. Phillips built, owned and operated Henderson Seven Eleven Store. She later managed S & H Market in Reagan.
She was a member of the Shiloh Baptist Church and was very involved. She was in the prayer partner group. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society. She enjoyed sewing and had a dog grooming business for a time. She loved doing outside work and building things. She and her sister-built log cabins and worked on her own home. She was also a good painter of landscapes. She loved her family and left a legacy of keeping them all close to her both physically and in heart.
She is survived by a son, Ralph (Carolyn) Alexander of Reagan; one daughter, Sally (Harold) Alexander Dukes of Reagan; five grandchildren, Derek (Emily) Dukes, Amy (Phillip) Lemmings, Tracey (Kim) Alexander, Wendy (Jeremy) Cherry and Jeff Jones; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; a brother, Joe Allen Climer of Reagan; and one sister, Velma (Gayle) Dean Alexander of Reagan.
She was preceded by her parents; her husband, J.P. Alexander; four brothers, Paul Climer, Ernest Climer, Clifford Climer and Dan Climer; and three sisters, Hazel Ryan, Mamie Dell Essary, and Elizabeth Mooney.
