Byron J. Phillips

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - Byron John Phillips, 51, a successful business man, died in his sleep on Friday, March 30, 2007, at his home in Rocky Mount. He was born on May 14, 1955.

He is survived by his wife, the former Theresa Berman, formerly of Acton, Mass.; three children, Deborah and John, both students at North Carolina University, and Rachael, a freshman at Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island. Surviving are his parents, Albert and Jean Eskridge Phillips of Cambridge.

Mr. Phillips graduated from Annapolis High School in 1973 and the University of Maryland in 1977 with a degree in business. He joined the Phillips Corp. founded by his father and became successful in the machine tool business founding DJR and Associates. They were distributors for Phillips Corp., Haeger Hardware Insertion Machines and Captive Fasteners.

He was an enthusiastic sports fan and was a life long supporter of the University of Maryland Terps. He and his brothers always attended the ACC Tournament each year. He also enjoyed activities on the Severn River and Chesapeake Bay.

Mr. Phillips is also survived by two sisters, Hollis Ann Phillips of Columbia, and Pamela P. Cressman of Annapolis; four brothers, Alan M. Phillips and Wayne Phillips, both of Annapolis, Gregory Phillips of Meyersville and Matthew Phillips of Fulton.

He was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church in Rocky Mount where a service was held on Monday. He was a former member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Annapolis where a memorial service will be held on April 9, at 9:30 a.m.

Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital, 501 St. S.P. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stiude.org.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of the John M. Taylor Funeral Home, 147 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis, MD 21401.