Emily Josephine Knight Diggs Phillips, age 97, of Port Haywood, Va., passed away to her Heavenly home on Friday, March 20, 2015, at The Cottage at Gloucester House, Gloucester, Va.

Emily was born on July 5, 1917 in Mathews, Va., to Emma Josephine and Floyd Knight, the youngest of four children. She was the oldest member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. Guided by her unfaltering faith in God, Emily lived and loved as a disciple of Christ. Whether she cooked, gardened, visited others, or cleaned house, her actions, thoughts and prayers were patterned after Jesus’ teachings and she influenced many others to strive to do the same. Her creative talent for playing the piano and writing poetry created many happy hours, and now memories, for family and friends.

She was predeceased by her first husband, Richard James Diggs, and her second husband, Tappan “Tap” Phillips.

Emily is survived by three daughters, Emily Sherrill Bohannon and her husband John Carroll of Gloucester, Mary Kathryn Diggs of Port Haywood, and Janet Diggs Parsons and her husband Ken of Williamsburg. She had four grandchildren, Gail Khoury and her fiancé Roger Hogge, Todd Bohannon and his wife Michele, Kathryn and Joanna Parsons; five great-grandchildren, Meredith Kloman, Austin and Kennedy Bohannon, Landon and Logan Khoury, and one great-great grandson, Michael Kloman.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Gloucester House and its compassionate staff as well as Heartland Hospice for taking excellent care of our mother.

A funeral service was held Sunday, March 22, 2015, at 3 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church, at 5555 New Point Comfort Highway (Route 14), Susan, Va. 23163.

Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home was in charge.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Paul UMC, Alzheimer’s Association, or your favorite charity.