H. Phillip Anthony

H. Phillip Anthony, 92, completed his race and has graduated to Glory on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Born in Detroit, Michigan, January 15, 1932, Phillip was employed as an Engineer Apprentice at the Ford Motor Company. But he left that career when called into ministry as a young man. A graduate of Detroit Bible College, Anthony soon was the young pastor at Calvary Baptist in Ovid, Michigan, and then was called to Aurelius Baptist. In 1964, he was called to Loomis Park Baptist in Jackson, Michigan where he and his wife Rose, would lead for the next twenty-five years. Many young couples would be called into ministry under his leadership in Jackson. Early in his tenure at Loomis Park, the church underwent a major remodel of the sanctuary. The evening before the inaugural service, an arsonist burned the church to the ground. Loomis Park decided to relocate to forty acres north of Jackson and rebuild. In 1967, Anthony led Loomis Park to dedicate their new campus to the Lord and the church became a dynamic fixture within the community. After twenty-five years, Anthony and his wife relocated to Venice, Florida. Rose had suffered for years from crippling arthritis. The move to Florida was necessary for her health. The Anthony’s began Colonial Baptist Church with no financial support and little to no resources. Rev. Anthony led Colonial to accept five acres of land located in Taylor’s Ranch area in what is now considered to be one of Florida’s fastest growing communities. They built their sanctuary and purchased additional land debt free. Rev. Anthony and his wife Rose are well remembered for the lives they touched in faithful ministry for more than seven decades. Countless missionaries, ministers, pastors, and Christian counselors have been called to serve as a result of Anthony’s influence. Their lives were marked by service to the Church and in the many lives they touched in ministry together. Though Phillip retired after health problems at the turn of the century, he continued to serve on staff at Colonial Baptist and led weekly services at Sunset Lake Health and Rehabilitation Center in Venice for the five years Rose resided there. Most recently, he could be found studying the Bible and his quarterly while teaching a Senior Adult class at First Baptist Church, Venice. Dr. Thomas Hodge is considered a great friend of the family. Rev. Anthony is survived by four children, Deborah and Daniel Stockton of Maryville, TN, Rachelle Anthony of Venice, FL, Daniel and Debbie Anthony of Thomasville, NC, and Stephen and Jeanna Anthony of Wilmington, NC. Phillip also had twelve grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, and one great, great grandchild. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 6, 2025, with family receiving friends of Rev. Anthony from 10 am to 11 am at Toale Brothers Funeral Home, Ewing Chapel. A service will follow at 11 am. Entombment will follow the service at Gulf Pine Memorial Park. The family greatly appreciates those who have reached out to them the past few months and days as their father began to be in decline. His life was indelibly enriched by those expressing their thoughts and prayers for him. Link to LIVE STREAM: https://app.attend.live/viewer/event?idEvent=73AQr

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H. Phillip Anthony

January 15, 1932 - January 1, 2025