Retired clerk of Baldwin County Superior Court dies at 74
Jan. 20—Rosemary Ivey Fordham Phillips loved serving as clerk of Baldwin County Superior Court. It was a job she held for 27 years. And one she rose through the ranks to attain.
She was a county employee in the clerk's office in Milledgeville for more than 48 years. During her distinguished career as a constitutionally-elected officer, Phillips was elected to seven four-year terms as clerk of Baldwin County Superior, State and Juvenile courts.
She served the people of Baldwin County through 2015. She still had another year remaining in office, but decided to retire in order to spend more time with her husband, David, and the couple's grandchildren.
Phillips died Friday at age 74. Funeral services are set for 2 p.m. Monday in the chapel of Moores Funeral Home in Milledgeville. The Rev. Paul Gardner will officiate.
She is survived by her husband, David Phillips, of Milledgeville. Other survivors include a son, Andy Fordham and his wife, Haley, who live in Putnam County; a daughter, Heather Fordham Roland, of Milledgeville; three stepchildren, Eric Phillips, and his wife, Christa, of Milledgeville; Michelle Jackson and her husband, Jay, who live in Washington County; and Tracey Burrell of Milledgeville. She also is survived by a brother, Paul Ivey of Cumming.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1 until 2 p.m. when the service begins in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be held at Baldwin Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Just before she retired and appointed Mitch Longino as the new clerk of Baldwin County Superior Court, Phillips talked about her career in the clerk's office that began when she was 17.
Phillips recalled that she was offered the job in the clerk's office just three days after she graduated from Baldwin High School.
She graduated on June 2, 1967, and found herself working in the clerk's office on June 5.
Phillips had intended on going to college to become a schoolteacher. While still working in the clerk's office, she enrolled at Georgia College. She went on to graduate, but instead of becoming a teacher, she was offered a full-time job with the clerk's office and she opted to take it as opposed to moving into a classroom as a teacher.
A short time later, she was sworn in as a deputy clerk. She later rose as the top official in the clerk's office.
She was longtime friends with the county's other three constitutionally-elected officers. They included Sheriff Bill Massee, Probate Judge Todd A. Blackwell and Tax Commissioner Cathy Freeman Settle.
During the time she served as clerk, Phillips said the group met often and called themselves "The County Officers' Club."
