Alta "Joy" Phillips, 85, of St. Albans, passed away peacefully at her home on March 11, 2026, with her sister by her side. She was born on January 5, 1941, to the late Jessie Arnold and Lula Madeline Merical. Joy was a faithful Christian who attended Goldtown Community Church for many years before later worshiping at Charleston Mountain Mission. She was a proud graduate of Sissonville High School and retired from the Charleston Post Office. True to her name, Joy found great happiness in God's creation—especially springtime, flowers, and birds. She took great pride in her flower gardens, which she lovingly and meticulously maintained. Joy found deep comfort in her faith and in the promise of eternal life, often expressing this through the poetry she wrote and her love of Scripture.

In addition to her parents, Joy was preceded in death by her brother, Jack Arnold Merical, and her sister, Betty Joann Coble.

Those left to cherish Joy's memory include her loving sister, Judy Good; her fur baby, Faith; her sister-in-law, Nancy Merical; her brother-in-law, Jim Coble; several nieces and nephews; and many dear friends, including her longtime friends, Bob and Phyllis Rife.

A celebration of Joy's life will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18th 2026 , at Cunningham, Parker & Johnson Funeral Home, with Pastor Al Mendez officiating with assistance from his son, Paul Mendez. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Floral Hills Garden of Memories Mausoleum in Sissonville.

"See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come." — Song of Solomon 2:11-12

Online condolences may be shared at www.cpjfuneralhome.com.