Philip Randolph Reeves, our beloved "Papa", of Jackson, Mississippi went to his eternal home with Jesus on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at the age of 87. After a battle with cancer, Philip died peacefully at home surrounded by family.

Philip was born at home in a rural community known as Shiloh located in northern Louisiana on August 1, 1934, to James Melton Reeves and Betty Barham Reeves. Philip's birth came as a surprise to his "older" parents so much that his mother was embarrassed and did not take him to town until he was one year old. His five older siblings loved and doted on him as if he was their own child and his best friends growing up were his nieces and nephews, which he adored.

Philip attended Bernice High School where he was known for extraordinary left-handed pitching ability. During this time, he met his lifelong sweetheart, Barbara (Ford) and they were married on July 2, 1955. Philip went on to attend Louisiana Tech University and graduated with a degree in Petroleum Geology. Philip and Barbara set up housekeeping in an eight-foot-wide trailer as he began his oil and gas career with Hycalog as a well logger. After a number of years, Philip began working for Cities Service Oil Company and later Hughes Eastern Oil and Gas Exploration as the head of the geology department. Philip retired from Hughes Eastern in 1991 and continued independent geology work for many years. He was a longtime active member of the Mississippi Geological Society.

Philip and Barbara were longtime members of Broadmoor Baptist Church where he served in many leadership capacities including Chair of the Deacons. Philip was instrumental in the move of Broadmoor to its current location in Madison, Mississippi as the Chair of Building Committee. In recent years, Philip and Barbara were led to attend First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, where they are current members. In addition to active church members, Philip and Barbara loved to travel spend time with family and friends and ballroom dance.

Philip is preceded in death by his mother and father, James and Betty Reeves, brothers James Reeves (infant), John David Reeves, and sisters, Vivian Reeves Sutton, Mollie Reeves Richardson, Doris Reeves Melton, and Merle Reeves DeLeary. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, son, Philip M. Reeves (Stephanie), daughters, Kimi (Frank) Fancher and Candon (John) Garbo, grandchildren Madelyn (Thomas) Harris, Parkes Fancher, Reeves (Elizabeth) Fancher, Conner (Erica) Reeves, Mollie (Josh) Oller, Reagan Reeves, Camille (Matthew) Maly, Alex (Matt) Richards, Barron Garbo and Hill Garbo. He is also survived by thirteen great-grandchildren, Ryals, Thacker, Brown, Sadie, Lily, Mille, Vivian, Samuel, Mattie, Griffin, Larkin, Margot, Nell with number fourteen expected in May. Philip's love for his family ran deep and only second to his love for Jesus Christ his Savior.

Visitation will be held from 6pm – 8pm Friday, January 14, 2022 at First Presbyterian Church, Jackson. Funeral services will be held at 11am Saturday at the church with interment to follow at Lakewood Memorial Park.