Raezel Fanaie Phillips of Newport, Arkansas departed this life on Friday, May 13, 2022, at Unity Health Hospital in Newport, Arkansas at the age of thirty-five after a brief illness.
Raezel was the daughter of Nina Kay Phillips and the late Kendrick Simpson. She was born on December 2, 1986, in Newport, Arkansas. She gave her life to Christ at a very young age at the First Baptist Church of Diaz under Pastor Rubin Dinwiddie.
She began her adult life after graduating from Newport High School in May of 2005. Afterward, she attended Arkansas State University-Beebe where she obtained an Associate’s Degree. She later attended Lyons College in Batesville, Arkansas. Raezel was a determined student who was especially gifted in science.
She resided in Newport where she was employed by Arkansas Steel Association for over thirteen years. Raezel was a very hard and dedicated worker. Raezel’s illness was brief and she remained a champion of hope, dignity and strength. She would only seek help from her mama when she wasn’t feeling well. She was a woman of extraordinary strength and grace. She will always be remembered as a loving daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Raezel especially loved her niece and nephews: Chance Phillips, Pharaoh Phillips, Stormy Nevels, and Tyrone Jr.
In addition to her biological father, she was preceded in death by her bonus dad, Jerald Wayne Newsome; her maternal grandparents, Ester and Ruby Neal Watkins Phillips; her aunts, Peggy Phillips, Lisa Phillips and Tina Fay Phillips; her uncles, Jimmy Henderson, Ester Phillips, Jr., Chase Phillips and Tommy Phillips.
Special memories of Raezel will be carried on in the hearts of her survivors; her mother, Nina Kay Phillips of Newport; her sisters, Raine Phillips of Newport, Qunashia Wilborn (Korey) of Jonesboro; her brother, DeAngelo Denton of Nashville, Tennessee; her paternal grandmother, Lillie Simpson of Newport; her aunts, Sharon Pruitt (Eddie) , Gilda Henderson and Marcella Phillips (Terry Taylor) all of Newport; her uncles, Randy Phillips (Tina) of Newport, Dondia Phillips of Jonesboro; Rufus Simpson and Homer Simpson, Jr. both of Newport; Three special uncles, Ken Brown of Jonesboro and Kevin Lee of Little Rock and Kenny Cox of Newport; special aunt, Sharon Henry of Newport; a very special uncle and friend, Mr. Ivan Minguess of Newport.
The family would like to express exceptional gratitude to the Phillips and Watkins families.
The service will be at 2:00 Saturday, May 21, 2022, at Dillinger Funeral Home with Pastor Lawrence Butler officiating. Interment will be at Shiloh Cemetery.
