Jeffrey Cornelius Phillips, better known as "Neal" was born September 3, 1974 in Nash County, North Carolina to Jesse Harold Phillips and Mary Lynch Phillips. He departed this life on Sunday, May 21, 2023 in the comfort of his home with his family.

Neal attended Nash/Rocky Mount Schools and was self-employed with Indoor-Outdoor Maintenance. He was a member of Titus Lodge #176, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Neal was a fun and loving person and a man of few words. He loved cooking on the grill and fishing. He mostly loved spending time with his family.

Neal was preceded in death by his father, Jesse Harold Phillips; a brother, Michael D. Phillips; paternal grandparents, Marcelious and Mary Jones Phillips; and maternal grandparents, Roosevelt and Louvenia Hendricks Lynch.

He leaves to mourn his loving and devoted wife, Tawania Bryant Phillips of the home; children, Jaquana Hansley (Candice) of Sharpsburg, NC, Quashana Lynch of Rocky Mount, NC, Jeffrey, Mikyla and Nijel Phillips of Raleigh, NC, Ariana Hendricks of Apex, NC, and Madison and Mason Phillips of Durham, NC; four bonus children, Takisha, Isaiah, Naazharah, and Jashaia; four grandchildren, Ivy, Ivan, Iris and Legend; his mother, Mary Lynch Phillips; five sisters, Barbara Parker, Evelyn McKoy (Rudy), Dilisa Howard (Shawn), Sherlene Phillips (Marvin), and Rochelle Perry (Bruce), all of Rocky Mount, NC; four brothers, Ray Phillips (Stephanie), Jesse Phillips, Jr. (Talitha), Timothy Bryant (Carolyn), and Marcellious Phillips (April); a mother-in-law, Sylvia Lynch; two sisters-in-law, Keyuna Lynch, brother-in-law, Morris Lynch, Jr.; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Graveside Service was held on Friday, May 26, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Davis Cemetery, 415 Reginald Drive, Enfield, North Carolina. A Public Viewing was held on Thursday, May 25, 2023 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm in the chapel of Lea and Pope Funeral Home, 215 S. McDaniel Street, Enfield, North Carolina. Arrangements were handled by Lea and Pope Funeral Home, Enfield, North Carolina. Send condolences to www.leapopefuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be sent to UNC Health Foundation, 123 West Franklin Street, Suite 510, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, in memory of Jeffrey Cornelius Phillips.