Roper Funeral Home and Crematory 206 Holly St Jasper, GA 30143 (706) 253-7500 (706) 253-0040 www.roperfuneralhome.com Mrs. Phyllis Ann Sloope, 93, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2023 at her home with family lovingly by her side. Phyllis was born in Griffin, GA on November 9, 1929, the fifth of six children to the late Bronza and Odessa Howard. In addition to the strong bonds she would maintain with her parents and siblings all their lives, she was especially close to her grandparents in nearby Experiment who were inspiring and loving role models for many of her life's most enduring values. She graduated from Spaulding High School and had known for years she wanted to become a nurse. She had volunteered as a teenager at the local hospital, and Dr. Smaha quickly promised her a job upon graduation from nursing school. She then began the nursing program at Crawford Long in 1947, but before completion, lightening struck when the handsome "man from Culloden" in a shiny new Studebaker trolled into the Magic Grill on the make. They would marry in a couple of years following John's return from service in the Korean War and begin a wonderful marriage that would last almost 71 years. Phyllis was respected and enjoyed as a "nurse's nurse" through more than 30 years of private practice and public health nursing supervisor work. Her compassion, down to earth sincerity, courage, and sweet spirit were obvious, and upon her retirement in 1989, a poem was presented at her retirement dinner acclaiming her "selfless dedication and quiet dignity in service....her high professional commitment..." and concluded..."when the masterpiece is finished the artist moves on." But her career, as satisfying as it was with again, more lasting friendships with her fellow nurses, would never compete with her primary focus in life: her love for her husband, her family, her many very close friends and the center for those - her home. She was best known for her love of cooking especially and serving good, healthy food to all and did so as long as she was able. That brought constant streams of those closest to her. Few opportunities to celebrate family birthdays, milestone events - the most noteworthy recently being their 70th anniversary - or holidays with family and friends were missed over 70 years. She also had a superb natural good taste for beauty and balance and thus loved decorating and keeping a well ordered home with fresh flowers and plants inside and birds and pets just outside - an outside always well-planted and maintained by John. There were also frequent great travels throughout the country and to Italy on an anniversary. Many of those were with their dearest of friends and neighbors with whom they shared so much of the fullness of their lives - the DuBoses and Shelnutts - for 50 years. They regularly vacationed at the Island Club Resort on Hilton Head Island with family for over 40 years, again establishing and maintaining treasured friendships there too. Though the blessings of long life had come with increasing health challenges and limitations, she faced them bravely all along the way - always with her most devoted husband by her side and with her children, grand children, friends, and churches close at hand. Even then, she never lost her sweet smile for long, and never the southern charm of a genuine lady. She and John continually reflected upon and recounted their "wonderful" lives together. They began and ended every day with hugs and repeated expressions of how much they loved one another. The surviving family who will continue in their love and honor of her memory are: husband, John B. Sloope, Forsyth/Jasper; sons, John B. Sloope, Jr., Jasper and Tom H. Sloope (Angela), Forsyth: grandchildren, Katherine E. Danyo (Chris), Brookhaven and Alexandra T. Hinckley (Nick), Woodstock; great grandchildren, Reagan Danyo and Everett Danyo, Brookhaven; brother, Nathaniel W. Howard (Patty), Ellijay and numerous nieces and nephews. A celebration of the life of Phyllis Sloope will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023 at 2 p.m. at The First Baptist Church of Jasper, 198 East Church Street, Jasper, GA with Reverend Preston Jones of the First Baptist Church of Jasper and Reverend Brian Moore of New Providence Baptist Church in Forsyth officiating. A visitation will be held about 12:30 p.m. before the service in Walker Hall of the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Jasper or New Providence Church. Interment will be held at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, 1:00 p.m., Friday, June 16, 2023. Roper Funeral Home; 206 Holly Street; Jasper, GA is in charge of arrangements.