Retired local educator Reba Phillips Welch died April 28, 2023 after battling a number of chronic illnesses over the last several years, principally diabetes.
She was the only child of Hall Watson Phillips and Kathleen Logan Phillips, both of whom descended from early settlers of Chattooga County and preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband of forty-five years, David E. Welch, a native of Cuthbert, GA. It was with great pride that Mrs. Welch was an active member of a number of heritage organizations including the Dames and Barons of the Magna Charta, Daughters of the Revolutionary War , Colonial Dames, The Mayflower Society, XVII Century, Daughters of the American Colonies, The Mayflower Society, Daughters of the War of 1812, The Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars, Inc. and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. In addition, she held various officer positions throughout her memberships.
Mrs. Welch was known for her love of history and writing and her flamboyant teaching style. These characteristics formed her personality as she sought to make an indelible impression on her students, many of whom received local, state, and national recognition winning writing awards during her many years of teaching. “If I want students to write with passion, they must see in me a role model”. Mrs. Welch wrote numerous articles which were published locally as well as regionally and nationally. One of the nationally published articles focused on a local family, the Cleghorn, and its mausoleum situated in the Summerville Cemetery. A product of Chattooga County Schools, Mrs. Welch attended the University of Alabama and Georgia State University earning several degrees. After a successful yet unfulfilling financial career, she became an educator at the age of 38 with the Cobb County School System. “I made my plans for a business based career, but God redirected my footsteps into education.” She remained in that capacity for thirteen years teaching English Language Arts , Social Studies, and Drama before returning to her beloved Chattooga County where she taught English/Language Arts an additional 13 years at Summerville Middle School before her retirement. Her greatest joy was staying connected to former students and seeing their successes in real life. At the time of her death, she had served as the Vice President of Programs for the Chattooga County Historical Society and overseen the annual Robert S. Baker Amateur Historian Essay Contest for many years. Prior to a decline in her health, Mrs. Welch had enjoyed belonging to the Chattooga Garden Club and spent as much time as possible enjoying the grounds of McCollum Manor which she and her husband purchased in 2006. They were particularly proud of the native azalea and rhododendron species which were added to the grounds in 2016. Art and music were very important to Mrs. Welch who spent over forty years supporting and attending the Atlanta Opera and Atlanta Ballet. She valued local art as well and volunteered at Paradise Gardens built by the legendary Howard Finster. She and her husband, Dave, were awarded the 2014 Paradise Garden Volunteers of the Year by the Paradise Garden Board and then Director Jordan Poole all of whom who worked tirelessly to renovate the gardens and showcase Reverend Finster’s work. Mrs. Welch was active in her church, St. Barnabas, in Trion, GA and she served as the Vestry Clerk for many years until her death.
She is survived by her husband of forty five years, David Welch and special cousins, Charles Logan, Kim Logan, Elaine and Emmett Miller, Logan Hall, Jeff Owings, and Jacqueline Shelley Hix and her sons of choice Adam Dawson and Timothy Hartline who cheerfully and willingly assisted Mrs. Welch on the grounds of McCollum Manor maintaining a Southeastern Blue Bird Trail, nurturing unusual plant species, and dispensing love and care to the estate’s peacocks and other assorted creatures, both feline and canine.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 5, 2023 at 4 p.m. from St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Trion, Georgia with Rev. Dr. John Herring, of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church of Rome, officiating, burial following in the Phillips Family Plot in the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. There will be a reception following services at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church given by The Marsh Chapter of D.A.R., The Chattooga County Historical Society and Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.
Visitation will be Thursday, May 4th from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Earle Rainwater Funeral Home. The family requests no flowers, but donations may be made to the local animal shelter.
Earle Rainwater Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for Mrs. Reba Phillips Welch who passed away on Friday.
