Phil Fannin

Truman Phillip Fannin, 81, of Elberton, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2023 after a courageous two-and-a-half year battle with bladder and lung cancer.

Phillip was born on November 16, 1941 to Martha and Bill Fannin in Columbus, Ga. Following several years of his childhood in Orleans, France following World War II, the family returned to Columbus, where Phillip graduated from Columbus High School in 1959.

Phillip went on to graduate with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1963 from The University of Georgia, where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He then moved to Atlanta and began his career at the Citizens & Southern National Bank and later became CEO of Lowe Engineering. While working at the bank, Phillip met Diane Estes. They were married in Haralson, Ga. in 1973.

Phillip and his family moved to Elberton in the early 1980s when he bought a granite quarrying and manufacturing firm that later became Georgia International Stone. After the sale of his company in 1999 and entering retirement, Phillip enjoyed even more golf at Elberton Country Club; even more fishing at Clarks Hill Lake and St. Simons Island; deer, duck and turkey hunting; and working on his farm in McCormick County, SC.

Phillip loved his wife, his family and friends, the great outdoors and the Georgia Bulldogs. He is preceded in death by his brother William "Sonny" Fannin and his parents Martha and Bill Fannin. He is survived by his wife Diane Estes Fannin; sons Phillip Hobbs (Danielle), Tripp McKenney (Lisa) and Coleman Fannin (Jordan); daughter Jennifer Locke and grandchildren Ashley Hobbs, Ben Hobbs, Abigail Hobbs, Cora Fannin and Hutch Fannin.

The family expresses their gratitude to Phillip's care teams at Emory Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta, University Cancer & Blood Center in Athens and Lavonia, Athens Area Urology, Bridgeway Hospice and Brookdale of Hartwell.

A private family service to celebrate Phillip's life will be held at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Development Office, 1762 Clifton Road, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30322 or The Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia, P.O. Box 49309, Athens, Ga. 30604.

The Strickland Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Hartwell is in charge of all arrangements. 

Announcement courtesy of Berry Funeral Home.