William Mervin Phillips dies at 75

During his 18 years as Lynchburg city attorney, William Mervin Phillips was especially proud of his role in protecting the voting strength of the city's minorities when parts of Bedford and Campbell counties were annexed in 1976.

"Dad always was a vigorous proponent of civil rights," said his son, William E. Phillips of Lynchburg.

"He was proud of everybody sitting together and working out a method of electing city council that worked well and complied with the requirements of the Justice Department."

Mr. Phillips, who was city attorney from 1973 until he took early retirement in 1991 during a budget crunch, died Thursday in a Lynchburg assisted-living facility. He was 75.

After stepping down in Lynchburg, he served as town attorney for the towns of Appomattox and Amherst.

A longtime regional vice president of the National Institute of Municipal Law Officers, he received in 1991 the group's highest award for outstanding national public service by a municipal attorney.

Born in Church Road, he grew up on a small farm situated near the Civil War Battle of Five Forks.

A Civil War buff, Mr. Phillips often regaled friends with the story of how a hungry great-grandfather en route home from the war had called a black-eyed peas dinner he solicited at a friendly home the best meal he ever had.

"He was a man who loved to tell family stories," his son said. "He was a very hospitable person. He had an ability to make people feel comfortable and at ease. He never struggled for conversation."

At the beginning of his senior year at the University of Richmond, he married Juanita Wood, a Richmond native he met through a relative. He graduated from UR's T.C. Williams Law School in 1957.

Mr. Phillips held various jobs before joining the state attorney general's staff in 1967 as legal counsel to the Virginia Employment Commission, his post before becoming Lynchburg attorney.

"Dad was a person incredibly generous with his time, talent and resources," his son said. "He and my mother were not wealthy people. They grew up with church being a very important part of their lives. If a neighbor needed something -- or a family member -- it was not 'What do you need it for?' but 'How can I help you?'"

A memorial service will be held Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Peakland Baptist Church in Lynchburg, where he had been a deacon and committeeman.

In addition to his wife and son, survivors include a daughter, Gwendolyn Vieth of Roanoke; a sister, Margaret Winn of Ahoskie, N.C.; and four grandchildren.