Silver in the Slop

Enjoy inspirational "humor with a message" with this collection of short stories showing how God puts the "extra" in the "ordinary." Award-winning writer Cathy Lee Phillips was named the 2009 Georgia Author of the Year by the National League of American Pen Women.

Cathy Lee Phillips blends her background in the United Methodist Church with humor, warmth and a distinctive southern flair as she celebrates the touch of the Divine in the ordinary things of life. God's presence fills each moment of our lives -- the joyful as well as the painful. Whether in the humorous moments of childhood or in the frightening days facing her husband's heart transplant and his death in 1992, Cathy has learned to recognize the Silver in the Slop. So can you!

Cathy Lee Phillips is a native of Newnan, Georgia, a rapidly growing city just south of Atlanta. Newnan is also home of the late humorist Lewis Grizzard, and country music singers Alan Jackson and Doug Stone. Following her graduation from Newnan High School in 1974, Cathy attended LaGrange College where she earned a double major in Religion and Spanish. She graduated Summa cum Laude in 1978. Cathy was offered a Presidential Merit Award to attend Scarritt College in Nashville, Tennessee, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Christian Education from this United Methodist College. While a student at Scarritt, Cathy served as President of the Student Government Association and was elected as a Graduate Assistant with the Department of Christian Education. She graduated with honors in 1980. Returning to Georgia, Cathy served Atlanta’s Grace United Methodist Church as Director of Children and Family Ministries (1980-1984), Kingswood United Methodist Church as Director of Christian Education (1984-1985), and St. James United Methodist Church as Director of Youth and Activities Ministry (1985-1990). In 1990, she accepted a position in the business world and is currently General Manager of American Photographic Services, Inc., in the Lake Hartwell area of South Carolina. In 1986, Cathy married Dr. Jerry E. Phillips, an ordained Minister in the United Methodist Church (North Georgia Conference). They were married until Jerry’s death in 1992. His death was a result of complications related to a heart transplant he received in May 1990 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta. Since her husband’s transplant, Cathy has been an advocate and frequent speaker regarding the need for organ donation. A published writer, Cathy’s articles have appeared in Angels on Earth (A Guideposts Publication), Today’s Christian Woman, Photo Lab Management, The Wesleyan Christian Advocate, and the Newnan Times Herald. At the request of the Editors at Guideposts, Cathy recently taped a 30-minute program for North Georgia Television to discuss her grief journey following her husband’s death. Though no longer serving the church in a professional capacity, Cathy remains committed to the ministry of the United Methodist Church. She has volunteered as a Sunday School Teacher, Pianist, and Choir Director. Putting to use several years of vocal instruction, she is a frequent soloist in local churches. She is a popular retreat leader and speaker for church, business, educational, and civic groups regarding her life, her work, and the lessons she has learned along the way. Cathy recently moved just north of Atlanta to the outskirts of Canton, Georgia. In her spare time Cathy enjoys writing, singing, spending time with friends, playing basketball, or simply sitting on the patio with her new Golden Retriever Shadow, and watching the sun go down.