Phillip Carl Rooks

Phillip C. Rooks went to be with our Lord Saturday, October 17, 2020. This was not in his family’s plan, but God ordained his “Welcome Party” into Heaven with a couple of touchdowns for Georgia in the 1st quarter against Alabama.

Phillip was born to Martha and Bill Rooks on June 17, 1950. He was the younger brother to Danny and older brother to Mike. Phillip was knee high to a grasshopper while he played pool at the infamous “Petes Pool Room.” In fact he had to gain permission to be allowed to enter the pool hall because he could not see over the pockets. He also played football as a youth, where his love of the game began. Phillip was very skillful and boxed at the Armory in Griffin; he was so tough he even had a tooth pulled so he would be ready to take on the sport of boxing.
In 1969 he met the love of his life, Jennie Phillips, his “Honeynell,” He often joked that if he had taken her maiden name, he would be Phillip Phillips. She was a sophomore in High School at the end of 1969 and he was drafted into the Marine Corp. He was stationed at Paris Island, Camp Pendleton, and Okinawa. When his tour was over in November 1971, after a 2-year service, he was able to marry his sweetheart on December 31, 1971. Between dating and their loving marriage, they have been together 50 years.
December 23, 1973 they welcomed their first daughter, Mary Jennifer who he lovingly called “Blondie”. August 12, 1976 Jamie Amanda, his “Peetiness” was added to their family and made it complete. When the girls came into Jennie & Phillips lives, they enjoyed their new family of four. The girls grew up with many wonderful memories but they vividly remember their dad pulling them out in the ocean in an inflatable boat multiple times so they could ride the waves in again and again.
Phillip’s work ethic was evident when he started working as a stock associate at a store on Chappell Street. He also worked a paper route and sold donuts on Experiment Street. When Jennie & Phillip were first married he focused on providing for their family and started working at Kmart. He then worked at Food Giant for many years but the last 20 years he was a proud Produce Manager at Ingles where he retired in June 2017.
Phillip’s joy and light of his life was his grand-daughters and hearing them calling him Poppa. He was ecstatic to become a Poppa to Jordan Amanda Hebert, his “Fat Jaws.” Jamie married her love and Phillip’s favorite son-on-law, Jeff McLean. Years later they welcomed Amanda Lyn McLean, his “Sweetie” into the family. His last fireball grand-daughter Avery Nicole McLean joined the family who he called “Wheat Meat.”
Phillip savored every second of his many roles as husband, Dad, and Poppa to his many friends and associates. He is adored by his lifelong Virginia family, Connie & Doug Dean, Casey & Katie Shinault, Terry, Jaime, Tyler, and Adam Gantz. He loved Morgan Brubaker who he called his “Adopted One” and Ashton Jones who was the grand-son he never had. He was preceded in death by his parents Martha & Bill Rooks, in-laws Grace & Peewee Phillips, Brother Danny Rooks, and nephew Jimmy Rooks. He is also survived by his nieces Rhonda Rooks, Cindy Cofield, Katie Rooks and many Cousins. He loved his Anheiser Busch Natural Light cold beverage and never abused his taste for the finer things in life.
He will be missed more than we can comprehend but rejoice in knowing he is our eternal angel watching over us.
Visitation for Mr. Phillip Carl Rooks will be Tuesday, October 20, 2020 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home.
Services will be on Wednesday October 21, 2020 at 2:00 pm in the chapel of Conner-Westbury

Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 W. McIntosh Rd, Griffin is in charge of arrangements.
 
Please join the family and friends in honoring the life of Phillip Carl Rooks by visiting www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com to post your tributes, memories. 

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