Marian Williams Phillips

A native of Nashville, TN., born on January 20, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Marion Williams and the late Bernice Humphrey Williams.

She is survived by her husband of 49 years Joe M. Phillips of Franklin, KY.; sons, Ben Phillips and Sam Phillips and wife Audrey all of Franklin, KY.; Step-children: Cathy Ware and husband Dan of Franklin, KY. and John Phillips and wife Susan of Louisville, KY.; 4 Grandchildren: Isabelle Phillips, Seth Phillips, Witt Phillips and Jack Phillips.

Mrs. Phillips was a member of the first class to graduate from Harpeth Hall High School in Nashville, TN. in 1952. She obtained her Bachelors Degree from the University of Kentucky in 1956 with a double major in English and History. While still in college, Marian began testing seed at the Franklin Seed Lab and also worked at Farmers Elevator. She became a registered seed analyst and bought Franklin Seed Laboratory from Gilbertine Moore in 1966. She ran this business, the only commercial seed laboratory in the state, for over twenty-five years.

Marian began a second career in 1981 as a charter member of the Franklin-Simpson Community Arts Council, serving as its Executive Director for the last twenty years. In addition to the Arts Council, Marian was a leader in many civic and community activities. She was a past member and past chairman of the Board of Directors of the Goodnight Library and past president and current treasurer of the Friends of the Goodnight. She was an active participant in Franklin Rotary Club and District Rotary and was twice designated as a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition for her services to Rotary. She was a longtime, active member of Franklin First United Methodist Church, presently serving on the finance committee. Marian was a past president of the Franklin Business and Professional Women’s chapter, of which her mother was a charter member.

Marian was a accomplished equestrian and exercised a life-long passion for horses. As a child and continuing into her teens, she showed five-gaited horses at competitions throughout Tennessee and Kentucky, amassing scores of awards, trophies and ribbons. As a young girl, she competed at the World’s Championship Five-Gaited Horseshow in Louisville, and she attended that show annually for over 60 years.