SMITHFIELD – Phillip Bruce Ennis, age 79, passed away July 11, 2019, at WakeMed, following a short term illness, surrounded by his immediate family and niece, Vicky Foote.  He was born May 31, 1940, In Johnston County to the late Joseph Vernon and Velma Johnson Ennis.  Phil was a 1960 graduate of Smithfield High School, where he was co-captain of the 1959 State Football Championship team.  He was selected to play in the East-West Shriners Football game and earned a full scholarship to North Carolina State University.  He later served in the US Air Force from 1963 – 1967.  He worked with the NC Department of Agriculture until his retirement in 2002.  Phil loved woodworking and gardening and spending time with his family.  He was a member of Hocutt Baptist Church in Clayton.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Monday in the chapel of Parrish Funeral Home in Selma with Dr. Steve Roy officiating.  The burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park.

Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Joyce Harris Ennis; his three sons, Phillip Ennis and his wife, Sherri of Carolina Beach, Scott Ennis and wife Stephanie and Jimmy and wife Jamie all of Huntersville; five grandchildren, Jackson (16), Connor (14), Emily (14), Luke (12) and Reagan (9) and two brothers, Ronald Ennis and Craig Ennis both of Smithfield.  He was dearly loved by many family and friends.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. just prior to the funeral service.

Flowers are acceptable or memorials may be made to the Hocutt Baptist Church Building Fund, 314 West Horne Street, Clayton, NC  27520.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at parrishfh.com.