Cleo J. Phillips of Franklin, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2007.

Born September 12, 1920 in Hastings, Florida to George and Belle Ashton Johnson, she was welcomed by sisters Laura, Louise and Lola and brothers James and Hoke. Cleo grew up in Cocoa, FL and remained a true "Floridian" all her life. She was a proud "Mosquito Beater" and claimed the salty aroma of the Indian River to be her "favorite smell".

She was a loving wife for more than 50 years to W.M. "Bob" Phillips and together they raised three children, E.C. "Buz" Phillips and wife Myrna, Deborah Phillips Myers and husband David and Darby Phillips Miller.

In the 1950's and 1960's, Cleo made her mark as Owner and Hostess of Hubs Inn Restaurant on the Indian River in Cocoa, where locals and celebrities (including the original Mercury astronauts) enjoyed true "Florida cracker" seafood cuisine.

Cleo was a devout Baptist at both the First Baptist Church of Cocoa and later at First Baptist Church of Franklin. She was an active community volunteer all her life within the church as a Sunday School Teacher and Church Hostess in Cocoa, Prime Time Singers and Christian Women's Club in Franklin and other groups such as Girl Scouts and the Otto Garden Club. She was a devoted supporter of her children and grandchildren's social and educational activities. Grandchildren, Mark Phillips and wife Wendie, Misty Hodges and husband Shannon, Danya Ledford Vanhook and husband Duane, Derrick Ledford and wife, Hillary, Deidre Ledford and Ashton and Robert Miller were blessed with the precious gift of a "Granny" who was the epitome of a loving and supportive presence in their lives. She was a proud of all of their accomplishments, including her great grandchildren, Garrett and Cameron Phillips, Olivia, Amelia and Isabella Hodges and Finley Ledford.

In addition to her immediate family, Cleo will be lovingly missed by her sister Laura Miller; "foster daughter", Janie Akridge Hill and treasured nieces and nephews.

"And when His masterpiece was through He called it simply-Mother."

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, January 15, at First Baptist Church. Rev. Harold Ball and Rev. Jim Dusek will officiate. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. Monday, at the church.

Pallbearers will be Derrick Ledford, Jonathan Sanders, Robert Miller, Mark Phillips, Matt Myers, David Myers and Duane Vanhook.

Memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church Elevator Fund, 69 Iotla Street, Franklin, NC 28734.

Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Online condolences available @www.maconfuneralhome.com

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