Brevard - Phyllis Ann Woodard Laws passed away peacefully at her home on January 25, 2024 while surrounded by loved ones.

Born January 3, 1944 to Grady and Ethel Woodard, Phyllis entered the world wholly unaware of the positive impact she would make on so many lives throughout her 80 years.

While in her teens, she met James Laws and the two of them fell into a boundless love that led to their marriage on December 23, 1961. They shared a beautiful life together until James' passing on November 20, 2016.

Phyllis went to great lengths to teach her family the importance of turning a house into a home. To her, a house was just a place, some bricks and concrete; a home was that place filled to the rafters with love. In order to impart this lesson to her children and grandchildren, she led by example and lived what she taught. In doing so, her home became a refuge for several generations and became a sanctuary for many more—a place where a warm meal, a well-made bed, and a genuine hug were always available. All you had to do was ask.

If you drove to her house but she was nowhere to be found, you would find her in the garden where she was undoubtedly pulling weeds, smoking a cigarette, and reaching for the Coca-Cola that was always close at hand. Her life was a panoply of joyous color. Pink, purple, and blue hydrangeas, bigger than bears, lined her stone walkway. Red roses and white lilies hid among the bushes. Bees and butterflies filled her skies, always landing on petals and then buzzing or fluttering off to tell their friends where the good stuff is. Phyllis' house had the good stuff.

On any given day, you could walk through her door to be greeted by laughter, warm buttered biscuits, the whiff of cinnamon as she brewed Russian Tea on the stove, a hot cup of coffee, more ceramic roosters than a person ought to possess; yet the best aspect of walking through her door was knowing that you were loved. It was the kind of love that never withers and never fades. Timeless, unconditional, eternal.

Phyllis is survived by her sons, Tommy and Curtis Laws; Curtis' wife Mary Laws; her grandchildren Jordan Laws, Brittany Noah, and Raphaella Dabao; her great-grandchildren Ryleigh Smith, Penelope Smith, Emoree Noah, and Millie Noah; and many extended family members whose lives were forever improved by her nurturing hand. Now, she tends the gardens in our hearts.

Funeral services will be held 12 Noon Thursday, February 1, 2024 at Moody Connolly Funeral Home. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Blue Ridge Gardens of Memory.

Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com .

Moody-Connolly Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.