The Reverend Julia Jane Coleman Phillips,95 (one day shy of 96!), of Panama City, Florida, died Friday, November 1st, peacefully in the company of her loving daughter, Susan, and in the comfort of her home. She was born on November 2nd, 1928, in Liberty, Missouri to Mathias Stephen Coleman and Florence Elizabeth Barkley Coleman. Julia learned the value of hard work early on working in her mother's flower shop and her grandmother's commercial greenhouse while her grandfather was a wholesale florist.  These experiences, coupled with her tremendous work ethic, dynamic wit, and keen intellect propelled her in the direction of law school, and later, into the Church.

She attended William Jewell College as an undergraduate and earned a Liberal Arts Degree concentrating in Chemistry and Latin and then on to the University of Missouri-Kansas City and earned a Doctorate in JurisPrudence.  Originally, she wanted to be a Chemist, but this was not allowed at the time so she went into Law.

Julia married James Simrall in 1951 and entered practice jointly with her husband as Simrall and Simrall with a focus on family and civil law in Liberty, Missouri. They had a daughter, Susan in 1952. After a period of time, she found herself and her young daughter living in Colorado Springs, working for Shephard Citations. Then she moved on to Los Angeles, California working for Industrial Indemnity.  In July of 1965, Julia married Richard Phillips.

Julia always felt a calling towards the Church but for so long women were not allowed to be ordained in the Episcopal Church. She served in every single capacity a woman could in the Church, short of being ordained. Finally in 1976, The General Convention of the Episcopalian Church approved the ordination of women as priests, and this began in January of 1977. In 1978, she began her seminary studies at Claremont College in California.  After finishing her studies she retired from Xerox and followed her daughter's family out to Panama City, Florida. One day the Bishop of the Diocese looked at her and said "What are you doing sitting around? You are needed here."

She was chosen for Ordination by Bishop Charles Duvall in 1990 at St. James Episcopal Church in Fairhope, Alabama.  She served at St. Patrick's in Panama City, Florida from 1990 to 2022. She was the second female priest in the Diocese, and the first female priest at St. Patrick's.

Julia was a bright, spirited soul, with a quick wit and an understanding of human frailty.  She cared for her family and friends with love and compassion.  She always had time to listen and would give advice if needed. Julia loved lavender scented anything. She loved chocolate covered cherries and amarula. She could bake the most amazing sourdough bread, or any kind of bread really. Holiday dinners weren't a thing without her Black Walnut Cherry Salad or infamous cherry-pineapple dump cake.  She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

She will be missed by many including her church family at St Patrick's Episcopal church, her friends in Liberty, Missouri and in the Los Angeles area of California.

Julia was predeceased by her brother James Patterson, her Husband Richard Phillips, as well as her son-in-law John Bravo.

Those left to cherish her dry, keen wit, and love of education are:

Daughter Susan and son Jim (Nancy); grandchildren: Tabitha (John) Kristopher (Michele); great grandchildren: Justin, Molly, John; Nephew Jim(Cheryl)

The service will be at 11:00, on Saturday, November 30th at St.  Patrick's Episcopal Church 4025 E. 15th Street, Panama City, Florida 32404.  Guests are invited to meet in the parish hall immediately following the service.  The Rt. Reverend Russell J. Kendrick will be presiding.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in Julia's memory may be made to St Patrick's Episcopal Church or any charity of your choice.