Mr. Norman "Bo" Phillips was born in Harlem, NY at Sydenham Hospital on August 17, 1947 to the late Nancy V. Sowell Phillips and Matthew "Bud" Joseph Phillips. Norman was the oldest of four, followed by JoAnn, Gloria and Denise. Norman and his family moved to the Bronx in the early 1950's in the newly developed Bronx River Projects where he met and married his wife of over 52 years, Gail Theresa. Norman and Gail raised their family in Bronx, NY before retiring to Winston-Salem, NC.

Norman's formal education was earned through the NYC Public School System. He was a graduate of Samuel Gompers High School the Bronx. Growing up in Bronx River Projects, Norman made many friends with memories to cherish and also started courting his girlfriend Gail, who lived in the building next door. Rumor has it they met through his beloved mother's home hair care service, where Gail's mother was one of her frequent clients. In 1966, he was drafted into the United States Army and served overseas, with a tour in Germany. In 1969, Norman married Gail and had their first child, Corey Joseph. As a young teenager and young adult, Norman was known for his melodious and unique singing voice which he used as a member of his first singing group "The Butlers." Competition was fierce back in the day and singing battles with the likes of local groups such as the Butlers and Quotations, to name a few, were a regular past time. During one of these 'friendly' singing competitions, Norman, became a founding member of the singing group, "Battery Park."

After being honorably discharged from the Army, Norman began working for the NYC Transit Police in 1974 and also welcomed their daughter, Janay Arnetra. Norman spent the next 30 plus years raising his children and building a home filled with love, music, and laughter. After retiring from the NYC Transit Police, Norman worked as a Safety Police Officer at the Department of Veteran Affairs and then at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. Throughout Norman's younger years, you could find him hanging out with family at the basketball courts or visiting friends back home in Bronx River Projects, especially in the "Alley."

In 2005, Norman and Gail left New York for a new life in Winston- Salem, NC, and soon became members of the Rural Hall Church of God, where they gave their lives to God. He used his voice singing for the Lord in his last years of his life participating in several singing contests and earning first place in the Senior Adult Gathering competition in 2014, and earning second place in 2020. Norman cared a great deal about his church where he served as a member of the Trustee's Board and Pastor's Council for many years. At church gatherings, he never disappointed his church family with his delicious and humongous-sized banana pudding.

Norman tried to live his life by his favorite scripture, quoted and encouraged by his father Matthew Joseph, "For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Romans 10:10. Norman, as his father before him, would ask that his children turn their hearts toward God who does all things well, and who will be a source of comfort to them.

During the last 6 months of his life, Norman's illness and the care that he required from his wife, Gail, made it impossible for them to return to the church in the same capacity. Up until his life ended here on this earth, Norman often reminisced about being able to return to his church. He was truly a family man, faithful to his home and to his loving wife, Gail. With over 50 years of marriage, children and everything in between, Norman and Gail loved each other tenderly, fiercely, unapologetically, always and forever.

He was a friend, as well as father to his children, whom he raised instilling honor, discipline, respect and the same family values learned from his mother and father. His son, Corey, lived within shouting distance and he often enjoyed coming over to watch and discuss basketball games at length, often asking '…who do you think will take it this year, CJ? His daughter remained in the Bronx but her visits were always met at the door with 'Okay Nay-Nay, what do you want for breakfast?' Norman was a great cook and his breakfast meals of shrimp and grits, eggs whether scrambled, sunny-side up and two-or three-egg omelets, along with bacon, sausage, pancakes blueberry or banana, toast, orange juice, apple juice and coffee were legendary.

Norman's warm laughter, smile, and hugs will be profoundly missed as he will forever be remembered as an exceptional, respected and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, nephew, uncle, cousin and friend.

Preceding him in death was his beloved mother and father and his youngest sister, Denise Phillips of Hartsville, SC. He leaves to cherish his memory, his beloved wife, Gail; two children, Corey (Omayra) Phillips of Winston-Salem, NC and Janay Phillips-Wilson(Omar) of Bronx, NY; two sisters, JoAnn Phillips Rohan of Washington, DC and Gloria Phillips Carswell of Ocean, NJ; five grandchildren: Silasia (Kevin) Diamond of Pennsylvania, Idarmy Angela of Pennsylvania, Ahmad Syril (Katelyn) of Indiana, Omari Sekou (Iscis) Phillips of NC, and Sarais Star Phillips of NC; two aunts, Anna Lee Frazier of Queens, NY; and Sarah Madison of Brooklyn, NY; three great grandchildren, Kalibe Immanuel, Kazin Lee and Stormy Snow; a sister in-law; five brothers in-law; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and church family.

Public viewing for Mr. Phillips will be Thursday, May 26, 2022 from 12:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. at Clark S. Brown & Sons Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M., Friday, May 27, 2022 at Rural Hall Church of God, 270 College Street, Rural Hall, North Carolina. Family visitation will be 30 minutes prior. Interment Crestview Memorial Park.

For a copy of funeral program click here