Phillip Leon Pearson, 60, passed away on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at the North Mississippi Medical Center. He was born March 29, 1963, to Edward Leon and Betty Gilliland Pearson. He was a 1981 graduate of Itawamba Agricultural High School and a graduate of Mississippi State University, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He earned his Master of Science degree from Columbia Southern University. He was in the 155th Armored Brigade of the Mississippi National Guard for sixteen years where he flew Chinook and Huey helicopters and earned the rank of captain. He was also a member of the 185th Aviation Group. He flew helicopters to oil rigs in his earlier working days. He also worked at Air-Logistics, Kinder-Morgan, and was a safety consultant for OSHA. Phil enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, gardening, cooking, and working on his computer. He was an avid conversationalist and was keen on most any subject.

Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Fulton with Bro. Joseph Jones officiating. Burial will be in Itawamba Memorial Gardens.

Survivors include one brother, Edward O. "Eddie" Pearson (Wanda) of Hot Springs, AR; one great niece, Chandler Nettles, and one great nephew, C.J. Nettles III, both of Starkville.

He was preceded in death by one niece, Stephanie Pearson Nettles; and his parents.

Pallbearers will be Mark Brown, Donnie Bell, Rick Wheeler, Richard Comer, Matt Davis, Mickey Russell, Trent Bennett, Steven Staub, and Steven McNeece.

Honorary pallbearers will be Kenny Gilliland, Robert Gilliland, and Nicky Gilliland.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home.