Benita Florence Choate Phillips, 98, of Madisonville, KY, passed away on Friday, August 1, 2025, at The Paragon in Madisonville.

She was born on June 16, 1927, in Madisonville, KY, to the late Kathryn Vincent Choate and Fletcher Choate. She loved playing cornhole, flower gardening, and was formerly the president of the Garden Club in Newburgh, IN. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family and having family dinners. Her passion was dancing and until her health started to decline, everyone always thought she was at least twenty years younger than her actual age. Benita was a member of the Grapevine Baptist Church and also attended First Christian Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her mother, Kathryn Vincent Choate; father, Fletcher Choate; husband, Harold Strother Phillips; brother, Fletcher Choate, Jr.; sister, Kathryn Phillips; nephew, Scott Phillips; and her nieces, Pam Phillips Lutz and Deborah Phillips Smith.

Her survivors include her daughters, Chantal Clark and Denyse (Joey) Phillips Bennett Jones, both of Madisonville; grandchildren, Erika (Lucas) Lloyd of New Albany, IN, Danielle (Shaun) Thurby of Madisonville, Troy (Mary) Clark of Warrenton, MO, and Christopher Wayne Clark of Madisonville; great-grandchildren, Ellen Marie Clark and Kara Durbin; several great nieces and great nephews; and companion, Malcolm Franklin.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, August 4, 2025, in the chapel of Harris Funeral Home with Pastor Kara Foster officiating. Burial to follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Madisonville.

Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. on Monday until the funeral hour at the funeral home.

The pallbearers are Bill Powell, Richard Gordon, Jeff Ralston, Steve Tucker, Lucas Lloyd and Glenn Lutz.