Obituaries

David Matthew Phillips passed away 24 March 2025. He was 44 years old.

Born in Wheatridge, Colorado on 6 May 1980, David was the first of seven children of Richard (Rick) Phillips and Linda Duvall Phillips. His brothers were his closest friends as he grew up in communities across the country in Washington, Virginia and Arizona.

In Washington state, David learned the value of hard work growing up on the family farm. His brothers were his playmates and occasional victims. His father’s example of further education led the family to Virginia, where David found his soul in the streets of Charlottesville, playing music and becoming a chef.

These passions followed him throughout his life. He formed a band, Dragon’s Box, that won a local Battle of the Bands contest. And he was trained under a Michelin star chef while he worked his way into the restaurant field.

In 2000, his life took a sharp turn when he returned to his childhood faith and embarked on a two year mission in Colorado for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Afterward, David attended Southern Virginia University, nestled in the mountains of Virginia, where he felt at home. Initially majoring in music, David developed a greater love for English literature and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in that field in 2010, and was named SVU’s Barrus Scholar for the breadth and excellence of his scholarship.

David pursued his dream of becoming an English professor by enrolling at Marymount University for an MA in Humanities, Writing, and English. But his need to provide a living wage for his family led David into a career in management. The Fairfax Chick-Fil-A where David served as Marketing Manager often ranked amongst the top five locations worldwide. At Hooker Furniture in Martinsville, VA, David led teams for Hooker’s Department of Service.

In 2008, David married Tara Keller, who he dearly loved. David said he was never truly satisfied with life before meeting Tara. After nearly a decade hoping for children, they welcomed their daughter, Tegarion, in 2016. Their son, Gwn, arrived in 2022. When asked about his favorite memory of being a father, David responded, “All of it?”

In June 2023, David was diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer. His church, his colleagues at Hooker, and the entire Martinsville community rallied around David and his family. Through a remarkable treatment regimen, David’s cancer went into remission for several months, allowing him to enjoy additional time with his family. Unfortunately, the cancer resurged in January 2025, ultimately claiming his life in March.

David is survived by his wife, Tara Phillips, and his children, Tegarion (9), and Gwn (2). David is also survived by his mother, Linda Phillips, and his siblings James, Thomas, Peter, Paul, Richard, and Gina.

A memorial will be held at 4 pm on 12 April 2025 at the Martinsville Ward of The Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 25 Riverside Drive, Bassett, VA 24055. The service will also be broadcast on Zoom.