Funeral arrangements set for retired Muscogee superintendent John Phillips
Retired Muscoge County School District superintendent John A. Phillips Jr. has died.
MCSD board chairwoman Pat Hugley Green confirmed his death “with profound sadness” Tuesday in an email to the Ledger-Enquirer. He was 79.
Phillips died Tuesday “peacefully at home (in Midland) surrounded by his loving family,” Green said.
As MCSD’s seventh superintendent since the Columbus public schools merged with the county’s in 1950, Phillips served from 2003-08. He also was interim superintendent from 2012-13.
“He was a dedicated public servant known for his strong commitment to the education community and his unwavering advocacy for educating every child,” Green said.
The board honored Phillips in 2013 by awarding him emeritus status for “extraordinary and meritorious contributions to the fulfillment of the district’s mission and for his dedication to the Muscogee County School District, ensuring that this is a community that cherishes its public schools.”
Green said Phillips was “instrumental in centralizing many operations, such as district-wide athletics, district-wide communications, schools and the consolidation of offices into a centralized Public Education Center to operate more efficiently.”
Phillips came to Columbus from the Bartow County School System in Cartersville, where he served four years as superintendent.
“We mourn his loss and will miss his dedication and passion for public education,” Green said.
According to his obituary on the McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory website, the funeral for Phillips will be May 31, starting at 2 p.m., in St. Anne Catholic Church, 2000 Kay Circle, in Columbus. The family will receive friends one hour before to the service in the church. A reception will be held in the church’s fellowship hall following the service. Interment will be June 2 at Greenwich Cemetery in Savannah.
This story was originally published May 27, 2025 at 1:27 PM.
