Obituary of Phil Clinton

James Philip Clinton Brownsville, TN James Philip “Phil” Clinton died unexpectedly at the Jackson Madison County General Hospital on January 4, 2020, in Jackson, TN, at the age of 65 years old. A proud Tennessean, Phil was born on September 26, 1954, in Brownsville, TN, to John Clinton and Ruby Funderburk Clinton. He graduated from Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, TN in 1972, The Memphis State University in 1977 and the Tennessee School of Banking at Vanderbilt University in 1985. After graduating college, Phil was President of BALC, an automobile and equipment leasing company, Vice-President of Brighton Bank in Brighton, TN. He then served as Vice-Chairman and CAO of Insouth Bank for 22 years and Sr. Vice-President of Independent Southern Bancshares, Inc for 37 years until the time of his passing. Phil was an active trustee, elder, treasurer, and Sunday school teacher of the First Presbyterian Church in Brownsville, TN. A devoted family man, Phil’s love was for anything his sons Drew, Jay, or Will did in their lives. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, and classic car aficionado. His dry sense of humor was the absolute best. Phil is survived by his loving wife, Elise Higginbotham Clinton, of 28 years in Brownsville, TN and by his three sons: Bradley Andrew “Drew” Davis and his wife, Emma, of Memphis, TN, John Philip “Jay” Clinton of Nashville, TN and William Pickard “Will” Clinton of Austin, TX. He is also survived by his brother, J.D. Clinton, and his wife, Mary Susan, of Naples, Florida, as well as his sisters, Sue Clinton Stokely and Gloria Clinton of Brownsville, TN, and Joy Clinton and her husband George Rasco of Sarasota, FL. He is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews, his mother-in-law Emily Higginbotham, and his beloved dog Sparky. Honorary Pallbearers are Chester Dixon, Dr. Billy Butler, Mike Perry, and Bubba Pennel, all of Brownsville, TN and Sid Garwood of Olive Branch, MS. Pallbearers are David Prince, John Sharpe, Sr, Nick Nichols, Brannon Williams, and Alan Jones, all of Brownsville, TN and Rodney Spicer of Bartlett, TN. The celebration of life service will be held Thursday, January 9, 2020, at the Brownsville Funeral Home in Brownsville, TN, with the Rev. Will Jones, of Memphis, TN and the Rev. Anne Emery of Brownsville, TN officiating. Visitation will be from 10 am to 12 pm with the funeral service following immediately after. He will be laid to rest in the Brownsville Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory and in honor of Clayton Pinner are appreciated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908.