Roberta Joyce Richards Phillips battled hard against her illness, but passed away of complications from cancer on Oct. 29, 2016 in Shreveport LA with her husband by her side. The memorial fund will be used to help causes that she was passionate about, including mission trips and church youth programs. Her beautiful smile and selfless nature will be missed by those who knew and loved her. Though she is gone, she impacted innumerable people throughout her life, and through organ donation of her corneas gave sight to another.

She was born and raised in rural Coffey County KS. In Topeka she met the love of her life, Jimmie Reid Phillips, who called her the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and celebrated 52 years of marriage together. They raised two children during a life that took them through Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and finally Shreveport.

Roberta earned an A.A. Degree and a B.S. in Organization Management in 1995 from Wiley College in Marshall TX. Wanting to help others, she worked for ARC, LA Assoc. for the Blind and Goodwill Industries and was a member of Disciples of Christ churches where she had been a youth sponsor.