Memorial set for Locke, Churchland firefighter Chris Phillips

Published 12:00 am Saturday, August 29, 2015

By Shavonne Potts

By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

A Tuesday memorial has been set for veteran firefighter Chris Phillips and will be held at Catawba’s Omawake-Dearborn Chapel.

Phillips, 41, died Thursday of an apparent heart attack at home, several hours after responding to a fatal crash on Wednesday on Edmiston Road.

The memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. at the chapel with the family receiving friends at the chapel from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. prior to the memorial service.

Phillips began as a full-time lieutenant with Locke Fire Department in July, but served over 20 years on the Churchland Fire Department in Linwood and had been assistant fire chief there.

Prior to his time with Churchland, Phillips worked as a firefighter with the city of Lexington for about 12 years. He’d also been employed at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center as a security guard before working at Locke Fire Department.
Friends in the fire service have said Phillips always wanted to be a firefighter and he loved the job. He began in fire service as a junior firefighter at the age of 16 with the Tyro Rural Fire Department.
Phillips’ remains will be brought aboard a Churchland Fire truck in a procession from the station to the chapel.

Phillips is a native of Virginia, but made his home in Salisbury with his wife, Elisabeth, and their young daughter, Lillian.

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