Lola Marie Stephens Phillips

August 25, 1932 - February 7, 2018

Lola Marie Stephens Phillips age 85 of Martha, Kentucky passed away Wednesday, February 07, 2018 at her residence. She was born August 25, 1932 in Lawrence County, Kentucky a daughter of the late Isaac and Ida Barker Stephens. Lola was a homemaker. She was saved and baptized at a revival at Cains Creek. She attended the Elizabeth Baptist Church. In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by three brothers: Doug Stephens, James Stephens, John Stephens, two sisters: Mildred Gambill, Laura Stephens. Lola was a homemaker, but so much more. She graciously assumed many roles over the years. She was a devoted daughter, a caring sister, a supportive wife, a loving Momma to her four daughters, a softhearted Ma, Ma Honey, and Lo to her many grandbabies, and a beautiful friend to all who loved her. Because James had to work away from home a lot, Lola had to shoulder numerous responsibilities on the home front. She not only kept an immaculate house inside, she took great pride in doing all the yard work through the week so James wouldn’t have to do it when he came home on the weekends. She also tended beautiful flowers which were, in a way, her children as well. Lola taught her children about God and lived His strength as an example. She loved the song "Amazing Grace" and it was the testimony of her faith. Lola was a good cook who obviously gave her girls a love of food. Back in the day she sewed clothes for her girls, ironed everything, they wore, polished their shoes, curled their hair and crocheted many beautiful items as gifts and to decorate her home. As a wife, she was always by James' side. She spent many nights by his hospital bedside through both illnesses and injuries. The two built their home, and when James retired, the two were always working on projects together. They were married almost 68 years. The last two years, he had to be at the nursing home, but they made the most of their visits by sharing affectionate kisses that made the lady residents giggle. She loved hard and was entirely devoted to James and her girls and her grandchildren. It seemed like anything the grandkids would want, Ma would say “OK Honey” and find a way to make her babies happy. Lola was a compassionate caregiver. She helped care for her dad, her mom, her sister, and a niece as each fought battles at the end of their lives. And then Lola became the one fighting. She fought with determination and remained strong throughout her illnesses that began with open heart surgery and then a pacemaker. She broke her shoulder and had spinal compression fractures that caused a great deal of physical pain, but you rarely heard her complain. The awful Alzheimers started taking her from us several years ago. But it never took her spirit. She remained classy, loving, optimistic, humble and so funny. She made us laugh many times throughout her illness. She was aware of her forgetfulness and when she realized she’d said something wrong she’d just laugh and say “I’ll tell you anything." She used a patch medication for the Alzheimers that was changed daily at 8 p.m. If the girls did something silly or forgetful, she offered to share the patch with the joke "patch time's at 8." The last couple of weeks she became so weak she couldn’t sit up but she would still say “Thank You” every time anyone did anything to care for her. And, proudly, she never forgot her daughter's names or faces in spite of Alzheimer's. In those weeks, Lola was cared for and the family was comforted by Community Hospice which was a huge blessing that allowed her to die peacefully, with dignity, at home as she wanted. She is survived by her loving husband of 67 years; James Cecil Phillips Jr, , four daughters and spouses: Sandy (Lester) Wilson of Ashland, Kentucky, Vickie (Johnny) Pelfrey of Lancaster, Ohio, Sharie Phillips of Martha, Kentucky, Angela (Willis) Ferguson of Louisa, Kentucky, three sisters and spouses: Liddie Stephens of Blaine, Kentucky, Alma (James Earl) Hale of Blaine, Kentucky, Evelyn (Buck) West of Blaine, Kentucky, six grandchildren: Lisa Cordial, Scott Wilson, Lorie Tillis, Mark Pelfrey, David Gilliam, Bradley Gilliam, along with a host of family and friends that will sadly mourn her passing. Funeral services will be conducted 1:00 p.m. Sunday, February 11, 2018 at Waddell & Whitt Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Gary Sparks officiating. Burial will follow in the Stephens family cemetery in Blaine, Kentucky. Friends may visit after 11:00 a.m. Sunday, February 11,2018 at the funeral home. Serving as pallbearers will be her grandchildren.