Bessie Rigney Phillips

Mrs. Bessie Rigney Phillips, 89 of 67 Ranger Road, Fancy Gap, VA, passed away Monday, February 5, 2007, at her home. Mrs. Phillips was born August 15, 1917, in Carroll County, VA, to the late Henley Thomas and Martha Elizabeth Vaughn Rigney. She and her husband, Connia Dallas Phillips, Sr., established and operated Mountain Top Restaurant and Motel for many years. Mrs. Phillips was a member of Rocky Ford Christian Church and Fancy Gap United Methodist Church. She is survived by two daughters, Shelby Jean Hinson of Mount Airy and Virginia Sue Dodson of Eden; a son-in-law, Bobby Dodson; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Connia Dallas Phillips, Jr. of Charlotte and James Thomas and Joyce Phillips of Fancy Gap, VA; twenty-two grandchildren; forty-two great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; a sister, Viney Sue Jones of Galax, VA; a sister-in-law, Ilene Disosway of New Bern; two special nieces, Josephine Nichols and Geneva Dowell, both of Cana, VA; several other nieces; and several nephews. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Phillips was preceded in death by her husband, Connia Dallas Phillips, Sr.; two half-sisters, Essie Easter and Lettie Edwards; and two half-brothers, Gifford "Bill" Rigney and Ben Rigney. The funeral service will be held Wednesday, February 7, 2007, at 4:00 PM at Rocky Ford Christian Church. The service will be conducted by the Rev. Billy Moore and the Rev. Todd E. Byrd, and burial will follow in the Rocky Ford Christian Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy, where her body will remain until carried to the church to lie-in-state 30 minutes before the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030, or to Galax-Carroll-Grayson Project Lifesaver Chapter, P.O. Box 147, Galax, VA 24333 (www.twincountyprojectlifesaver.com).