Daniel Patrick Phillips, Sr.

Daniel Patrick Phillips, Sr., resident of Collierville, Tennessee, passed away Tuesday morning, April 28, 2026, at Westhill Senior Living of Collierville.

Daniel (Pat) was born June 19, 1939, in Pulaski, Tennessee, the son of the late Julius A. Phillips and Loraine (Cooksey) Morrow. He graduated from Frayser High School in Memphis in 1957, where he was elected Student Body President, Most Dependable and Drum Major. He then spent his first two years of college at Freed-Hardeman University studying music and Bible. At Freed-Hardeman, he was elected Vice-President of the Student Council and was a member of the Sky Rockets Quartet, singing tenor and playing an upright bass guitar. Pat then continued his studies at Harding University, supported by the earnings of his quartet, which then became known as the Mello Chords. The quartet recorded much of their music and travelled on behalf of Harding throughout the South. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harding in 1962, he also attended George Peabody College in Nashville.

Following college, Pat became a schoolteacher and band director in Ellington, Missouri. During this time, Pat also made the decision to become a minister in the Church of Christ. He began preaching in Ellington and then took positions at Belmont Church of Christ (Mississippi), Florida Avenue Church of Christ in Tampa (Florida), and then finally, Getwell Church of Christ in Memphis (Tennessee). Pat spent most of his church service at Getwell as an associate minister and worship leader, beginning in 1977. He was a strong advocate for the gospel and loved to share his vocal talents through worship. In more recent years, he became an elder of the church. Pat also continued to teach music for fourteen years in the Memphis City School system before retiring in 2012. In addition to his love of music, Pat enjoyed traveling, camping, spending time with his wife, Patricia, and riding his Gold Wing motorcycle.

Pat is preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Mildred Phillips, Loraine and Harry Morrow, his brother, Ray Phillips, his sisters, Laurie Barnett and Dena Massey, and his wife, Patricia Phillips. He is survived by his brother, Steve (Nilda) Phillips, his three children from a previous marriage, Daniel Phillips, Jr., Melody (Gary) Buss, and Melissa (Dominic) Dambro, and four grandchildren, Bradley and Jacob Rains, and Samantha and Ethan Scott.

Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Funeral Services beginning at 12:00 p.m. Brother Leon Sanderson will officiate. A Graveside Service will follow at Memphis Memorial Gardens on North Germantown Parkway at 2:00 p.m.

Condolences may be left on our online guestbook at www.PeeblesFuneralHome.com.