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Feb. 24, 1965 – Nov. 29, 2023

Phillip Graham Kunkle, 58, of Natchez MS was born Feb. 24, 1965, in Enid, Oklahoma. He entered his Heavenly home on Nov. 29, 2023, at 12:39 p.m. at the University MS Medical Center.

Phillip graduated high school from A.C.C.S. in 1986. He helped the family farming business at Kunkle Seed Company, after school and on into adulthood. He went on to receive his CNA license. He worked diligently at Jeff Davis Memorial Hospital. He was also employed at Natchez Regional Medical Center in the X-ray department. His last place of employment was Merit Health for the past 10 years in the environmental service department.

Phillip was a man of passion. He attacked every job with an eagerness to do it better than the day before.

He was dependable without fail. He was never late for any job. He would arrive at his 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. shift nearly 40 minutes before time to clock in, this gave him time to chat with his buddies.

Phillip was a member of Springfield Baptist Church in which he portrayed four different characters in the Easter Drama program each year.

To know him was to love him. Phillip could not go into any store, mall, or restaurant without knowing someone that he had taken care of.  He always greeted people with a kind and genuine spirit. It was just that simple. Being kind to others, helping thy neighbor, loving one another, and following Christ.

He loved many things including the LSU Tigers, New Orleans Saints, and WWE wrestling. But most of all he loves the Redeemer of all things, Jesus Christ.

Phillip was never anxious prior to his hospitalization, when his family asked him was he scared he replied “I’m not scared, I’ve got Jesus with me!”

Preceded in death was his father David Lynn Kunkle.

Survivors are his mother, Charlotte Edwards Kunkle of Natchez, MS; brother, David Edward Kunkle, and wife, Donna of Sibley, MS; sister, Charlynn Griffin and husband, Clay; and one niece, Charla of McCall Creek, MS; uncle, Danny Edwards and wife, Della Mae of Heavener, OK; aunt, Helen Swinford

and husband, Robert of Poteau, OK; and cousins, Daniel and Danella of Heavener, OK.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, at Springfield Baptist Church in Natchez, MS. Visitation starts at 10 a.m. with service at 12 p.m., followed by burial in the Natchez City Cemetery in the Kunkle Family Plot under the direction of Laird Funeral Home. Brother David Luke Kelley of Natchez was a source of strength for Phillip the past month and will officiate the service.

Pallbearers will be Eric Warren, Charlie Stevens, Wesley Warren, D.W. Howard, Jason Lynch, and Johnny Guice.

Honorary Pallbearers are employees of environmental services at Merit Health Natchez, MS.

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