Shirley Austin Phillips

Shirley Austin Phillips, 90, of Bear Creek, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 24, 2025, at Alpine Rehab in Asheboro, NC.

Shirley was born in Durham County, NC on April 27, 1935, to the late W.A. and Hattie Welch Austin. Shirley grew up in Siler City on a family farm in the Brush Creek community and she attended Henry Siler School and Paul Braxton. She attended Brush Creek Baptist Church as a child and loved it dearly. Shirley was married to the late James Madison until his passing in 1978. She was a long-time member of Hickory Grove Baptist Church. It was her instilled faith as a child that led her to serve the Lord through directing many Christmas programs, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, and spending many years leading the youth, GAs and Acteens. Shirley loved to cook for her family and was known for her turkey dressing.

Shirley was an extraordinary mother of four children and a very loving and involved grandmother and great grandmother. In her early years, she worked at Kellwood Hosiery Mill in Siler City. Every chance she would get, she was proud to share of her great accomplishment at Ridgecrest in Black Mountain, NC. As a child she was a state winner reciting scripture. For many years, she was the Team Captain for the church’s Relay for Life team, in which she was passionate about for her son, Jimmy “Wheel” who battled cancer.

For nearly 25 years, she was the heart and soul of her in-home daycare, “Shirley Jim’s Stay-n-Play”, where she lovely cared for generations of children. Her daycare was a second home for countless families. It was filled with laughter, encouragement, and affection. She had a rare gift for seeing a unique potential for every child who passed through her doors. She was a grandmother figure to many! Her genuine care shaped the lives of her “daycare kids” who are now grown and have their own families. She took immense pride in her “5 star daycare”!

She will be missed by many. Along with her parents and her husband Shirley was preceded in death by her dear son, William James Phillips; her brothers, Harold Austin and Bobby Austin; and sisters, Ruth Lowe and Hazel Dunn.

She is survived by her daughters, Cathy P. Brewer (Sammy) and Beckie P. Spivey (Danny) and her son, Darrell Phillips; daughter-in-law, Lynn Phillips all of Bear Creek. She is also survived by 5 grandchildren, Shalon Matthews, Bristin Brewer (Ashley), Hailey Phillips, Sumner Reaves (Andrew), and Daniel Spivey (Brooks); and six great-grandchildren, Ella, Ava, Rhyatt, Colby, Hatleigh “Hattie” and Holt; and many special nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at Hickory Grove Baptist Church, from 12:00 - 2:00pm with the funeral service following at 2:00pm and the burial will be in the church cemetery with Rev. David Hicks and Dr. Patrick Fuller officiating.

Memorials may be made in Shirley Phillips’ memory to the American Cancer Society.

To our Alpine family we are grateful for the comfort and reassurance we’ve felt from everyone while our mom/grandma has been at Alpine. From housekeeping to administrative, everyone seems like family. Our family will forever be connected to Alpine.

Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is serving the Phillips family.

Online Condolences may be made at www.smithbucknerfh.com