HAMPTON - Shirley R. Phillips Southern, ("Sug" short for "Sugar" or Mima) to her grandchildren, of Hampton, passed away in her sleep under family hospice care on Feb 21, 2016 after a long period of deteriorating heart health, and a several hospital stays this past year. Mrs. Southern was born Oct 4, 1931, in Spartanburg County, S.C., and had been a resident of Hampton since 1967. Mrs. Southern was a 50-year member of Wythe Presbyterian Church, Hampton. Mrs. Southern was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, as well as long-time friend and protector to everyone she met - there were no strangers to the Southern house. Mrs. Southern was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.V. Phillips; her sisters Betty and Sarah; a daughter, Darla J. Southern; son-in-law Gary R. Huskey, and granddaughter Chrystal Southern. She is survived by her adult children and spouse, Michael and Mary Southern; Vic Southern; and Denise M. Huskey of the Peninsula. Also, grandchildren and step-grandchildren including, Jennifer and Joseph Tonetti, Sherry and Justin Kane, Vickie Huskey and Noah Emmerson, Rachel and Ernest Evans, Collette Southern-Bahn and Matt Bahn, and Candace Southern. In addition are, the former Mary Williams' family, six grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by the John "Jack" Glover family of Lancaster, SC. Special thanks to the members of her Wythe Presbyterian Church family, the First Friends community, and the staff of R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, downtown Hampton. A graveside service will be conducted at 12 noon Thursday, Feb 25, 2016, by the Rev. Clint Mitchell for family and close friends, at the Albert G. Horton Memorial Veterans Cemetery, Suffolk. A celebration of life will commence at 2:00 p.m. Feb 25, 2016 at the Wythe Presbyterian Church, corner Kecoughtan & Robinson Roads, Hampton, and presided by Rev. Clint Mitchell.