Phyllis Ann Wood Forbes

Rocky Mount, North Carolina — Phyllis Ann Wood Forbes, age 89, passed away on Saturday, April 19th at her home in Rocky Mount.

Phyllis is survived by her sons Earl Michael Forbes (Margarete Eckl) of Munich, Germany and Timothy Wood Forbes (Valerie Bunn) (and her loyal companion Simon, the cat) of Rocky Mount, 5 Grandchildren Dana Marlowe (Jon Champion), Devin Gaenzler Forbes, Timothy Colin Forbes (Stephanie Forbes), Sophia Madeleine Forbes (Tobias Forbes), Constance Forbes and 2 great grandchildren Johanna Rose Chandler and Emilia Louise Forbes plus her siblings Judy Taylor (Bernhard Taylor, decd.), Emily Wright (Gary Wright, decd.), David Wood (Marty Wood) and Peter Wood (Cindy Wood, decd.) and many nieces and nephews.

Phyllis was the oldest of seven children. She is predeceased by her (first and third) husband Earl B. Forbes, her second husband Robert L. Morgan, sister Dee Joslin (David Joslin) and brother John Wood (Anita Wood). She is also predeceased by her parents, Harry Walton Wood and Madalyn Lehue Wood of Milton, Kentucky.

Phyllis grew up on the Ohio River in Milton, Kentucky. After school she married Earl Forbes and moved to North Carolina, attending college in Durham. Soon they moved to Rocky Mount, where Earl settled as a tobacco professional. She was soon a mother to two small sons but also began a professional career herself in banking. She rose to positions of high responsibility at the Builders Federal Savings and Loan and was much appreciated for her accuracy in day-to-day work and her conscientious and selfless manner.

After divorce and resettlement with her sons in Rochester, New York many years later, she continued her career in financial administration working at the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester there. Here she married Robert Morgan and lived happily for some years. Robert then died suddenly, and Phyllis again relocated, now back to her original home in Kentucky in 1981. There she was engaged by the Louisville Legal Aid Society as Controller, where she continued working till retirement in 2001. The last chapter in her business and social story involved remarrying Earl Forbes and returning to Rocky Mount. Together they managed Earl’s real estate business until his passing in 2019.

Phyllis was an intellectual, very curious and nothing if not well read. She was indeed an avid reader and also a citizen concerned about social justice. Even during the struggles of being a fledgling businesswoman in the 60s in the south she was nonetheless a devoted mother to her two sons. Her aura was gracious and friendly, and she was well loved by her family and countless friends. Although during the last few years of her life she had to deal with mounting health problems, she showed strength, resilience and determination and kept good humor throughout. Phyllis was a warm friend of many dogs and cats during her long life. Her membership in the ASPCA and the Sierra Club showed her commitment to bettering the living conditions of all members of our community and the natural world in general, too.

Finally, we must express our great appreciation to the caring staff of Spring Arbor Assisted Living facility in Rocky Mount and heartfelt thanks to the professional nursing staff of the Cardio-pulmonary unit at UNC Nash Hospital for their careful attention during her stay.

A remembrance event will take place later at her family home in Kentucky. For those wanting to make a tribute to Phyllis we recommend going to www.odinsorphansrescue.org

Arrangements entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 661 English Road, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.  You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.johnsonfuneralsandcremations.com.