RICHLANDS  -  Philip Ray Mercer, 72 of Richlands, made his journey home on December 5, 2022 at ECU Health in Greenville. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 10, 2022 at First Baptist Church of Richlands with Pastor Mike Johnston officiating.

The family will receive friends prior to the service at 10:00 AM at the church.

Phil was a man of many talents.  Appraiser and Real Estate agent by day.  Deacon, Mason, fisherman, carpenter, and fixer-of-things by night. He was a man with a true servant's heart.  Seldom was there a weekend you couldn't find Phil building a handicapped ramp, helping family and friends with home repairs, cooking at the church, volunteering with the Masonic and Freewill Baptist orphanages, or donating blood. He was a deacon and Sunday school teacher with near perfect attendance.

Phil was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, mentor, and friend. The impact he has made on his family, his friends, and his community will long surpass his time in this world. Well done, good and faithful servant.

Philip is survived by his wife, Karen, daughter, Amanda Mercer of Wilmington, son, Michael Mercer (Jenn) of Wilmington, sister, Ona Pickens (Peter) of Chapel Hill, and two granddaughters, Milly and Everly.

In leu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Free Will Baptist Children's Home of Middlesex and the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford.

Free Will Baptist Children's Home, PO Box 249, Middlesex, NC 27557, http://www.fwbchildredshome.org

Masonic Home For Children at Oxford, 600 College St, Oxford, NC 27565 https://mhc-oxford.org

Please donate blood https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive