Mrs. Phillips was an icon in my hometown of Alpharetta, GA. She owned and managed Phillips Variety Store all by herself for 57 years after the passing of her husband, Red. She was a spunky, friendly, sweet lady who genuinely cared for everyone she met. And, she especially worried about my safety during my travels.
As kids, we used to ride our bikes into town just to check out the latest model airplanes or newest toys that she'd have on her shelves. It was where I bought my little jars of paint, where we would play with the toy trains, and a safe hangout for a bunch of mischievous kids.
The images in this tribute were taken last year, during one of my visits back home. She was surprised and delighted that I remembered her after all these years. And, as she sat patiently for her portraits, Mrs. Phillips and I talked, laughed, remembered old friends, and she told me stories of the people she knew and of Alpharetta in its early days. When we were through, she let me wander around the attic to see if there was anything interesting still lying around. She was in the process of cleaning out the attic, so there wasn't much left, but I did find a neat pair of old roller skates -- the kind that strapped onto your street shoes. You certainly don't see those anymore!
Mrs. Phillips passed away on July 19th, 2008, just three days shy of her 92nd birthday. She was an Alpharetta Icon, and will be missed by all who knew her and all who grew up in her beloved Variety Store.
