James Laughton Phillips, M.D., 82, passed away Thursday, November 11, 2021, in Hampton, Virginia. "Jim" or "Doc" to his family and friends, he was born in Morehead City, North Carolina, the son of Herbert Orlandah Phillips, II, and Beatrice Elana Laughton Phillips.

Jim graduated with a B.A. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1961; he obtained his Doctor of Medicine from the same institution in 1965. From 1965 to 1971, Jim completed his medical internship and residency at the prestigious Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He was in the Navy during the Vietnam Era, holding the rank of Lieutenant commander and practicing orthopedics at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Jim was proud of his military service, and particularly in caring for those returning from overseas; his passing on Veteran's Day is well noted.

Jim put his education and training to good use, practicing medicine for half a century. He was a founding member of Tidewater Orthopedic Associates in 1973. Jim is still respected in the community for his consummate skill, dedication, and confidence as a healer. He gained a reputation as a highly dependable practitioner from the "old school" of medicine; whatever the situation or whoever was in need, it was Jim's honor and privilege to provide consummate care, day or night. He truly loved every aspect of his profession: his compatriots, his patients, and the challenge of medicine were all dear to his heart. It was this love that granted Jim the endurance to be an active surgeon until the age of 75, only retiring because it was his turn to undergo the knife.

Despite fully devoting himself to his professional craft and service, Jim managed to enjoy many of life's offerings, jumping feet-first into a variety of hobbies and interests. A self-styled "Renaissance Man," Jim loved agriculture, aquaculture, viniculture, bee keeping, browse farming, boating, building, music, singing, reading, studying, all fashion of animals, and other hobbies. The list of exploits, professional citations, and community activities is difficult to render; Jim was so fundamentally curious and fascinated with the world that he could never focus on just one activity. Nonetheless, he was particularly fond of his church, his Rotary club, being a founding member of H.E.L.P. (Hampton Roads Ecumenical Lodgings and Provisions), and volunteering for the Crippled Children's Clinic. Jim was passionate about hunting and fishing, being activities of his youth.

Though fully engaged in his profession and his pastimes, Jim was abundantly invested in his family. His love and charity for his wife, children, grand-children and loved ones was ever-present and seemingly endless; those closest to him cannot ascribe a selfish or thoughtless deed to him. Being our rock and our pillar of strength, his presence will be dearly missed, but his example and his pervasive Spirit will enrich us forever.

Jim is survived by his spouse, Charlotte Elizabeth Phillips, his brother, Hon. Herbert Orlandah Phillips, III, his sister, Doris Faucette, his daughters Angela Elizabeth Wade, Eleanor Anne Phillips, and Charlotte Beatrice Alexandra Phillips, his son James Laughton Phillips, Jr., and his grandchildren Samuel Wade, Drexil Rohde, and Elizabeth Wade.

A Memorial Service will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 20, 2021, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 179 E Mercury Boulevard, Hampton. The family will receive friends at the church immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to H.E.L.P. or the Hampton Rotary Club.