Dr. James Bruce Phillips, 75, of Mars Hill, passed away Tuesday morning at the John F. Keever Solace Center in Asheville.

Born in Mars Hill on January 26, 1938, Bruce was proud to be a native son of Madison County. Though he spent his entire career in the Madison County School System, he was also a businessman, a civic leader, a church leader, and a historian. He made it his life's aim to serve God, and to serve the people of Madison County.

Bruce graduated from Mars Hill High School in 1956. He attended Mars Hill College for two years before completing a bachelor's degree in history at East Tennessee State University. He then completed both his master's and his education specialist degrees at Western Carolina University. Years later, in the mid-80s, Bruce would earn his Ed.D. in school administration at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

On June 29, 1963, he married the former Mildred Payne of the Little Pine community in Madison County. Earlier this year, in June 2013, Bruce and Mildred Phillips celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Bruce began his career by teaching history and coaching at Laurel High School, and then at Mars Hill High. Later, he served as the principal of Ebbs Chapel Elementary School and then of Hot Springs High School. When the county high schools consolidated into Madison High School in 1974, Bruce became the assistant principal, a position he held for 14 years.

As an educator, and particularly during his tenure as assistant principal, Bruce was known to be a strict disciplinarian who demanded proper behavior from the young men and women of the high school, but he also conveyed a deep concern and affection for the students. Years after their graduations, many students look back to Bruce as a mentor, counselor and friend.

Long after his retirement, Bruce enjoyed keeping up with former students and took great delight in their success, whether they found that success in a professional field, in the academic arena, or on the farm.

When he left Madison High School in 1990, Bruce became Associate Superintendent for Madison County Schools. He retired in 1994, but soon after, served six years as Chairman of the Madison County Board of Education.

Bruce took pride in several building projects which were among the accomplishments of the board during his tenure. He did not take the stipend he received as a board member, but rather used it to create a permanent memorial at Mars Hill Elementary School to the Madison County veterans who lost their lives in World War II.

For over 40 years, Bruce was an active member of Middle Fork Baptist Church in Mars Hill, where he served as a deacon, a Sunday school teacher and a trustee. He was also active in the French Broad Baptist Association and was unfailingly supportive of the members and pastors of the local churches. Among other roles, he served as moderator for associational meetings for many years and helped found a scholarship for young people from the association who wanted to pursue careers in ministry.

Bruce enjoyed the study of history, especially local history, and he was a gifted researcher. He researched and wrote extensively about regional events like the Civil War-era Shelton Laurel Massacre and the 1935 Mars Hill bank robbery. Bruce's research was used to create a play about the robbery which was reenacted in downtown Mars Hill in 2011. He also lent his skills to many families in the area, for whom he conducted family research and put together written histories of their ancestry and genealogy.

In the early 1980s, Bruce was instrumental in organizing the Greater Ivy Community Citizens Association and served as the association president for many years. He was also part of an initiative to obtain grant funds for construction of the Greater Ivy ball field and the Greater Ivy Community Center. Other community activities include his long-time service to the Mars Hill Lions Club, of which he was a charter member, and Workforce Development Inc., which sought to bring jobs to Madison County. He was also president of the Madison County chapter of the North Carolina Association of Educators.

In addition to his civic activities Bruce was a business man, who, together with his wife Mildred, owned the Country Hub gas station in Mars Hill for 16 years. He also owned WHBK Radio, based in Marshall, for 19 years. He said he wanted to own the southern gospel station because he believed that people should be able to hear gospel singing whenever and wherever they were.

Bruce developed asthma in his 20s, and he suffered from respiratory issues related to the illness for the remainder of his life. Despite frequent bouts with the disease, he refused to complain about his symptoms and he maintained a pleasant and grateful spirit. He also maintained a sly sense of humor that often found its expression in practical jokes. Among a number of favorite quotes, kept in his Bible, was one from former NC State coach Jimmy Valvano, which seemed to sum up his attitude toward his respiratory issues. Valvano, a victim of cancer, said: "Cancer can take away all my physical abilities, but it cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart and it cannot touch my soul."

Throughout his career and in his personal life, Bruce was unafraid of taking a stand where he felt it was warranted. At times, that characteristic earned him a few critics, but many more admirers. Whether they agreed with his positions or not, all who knew Bruce realized that he based his decisions on what he felt was right, and on his fierce loyalty to the people of the county and the region.

As he grew older, Bruce turned his focus from the youth of the area to older people, and he was a frequent visitor to nursing home patients in the area. He enjoyed people, he enjoyed the stories of their lives, and he enjoyed meeting their needs. Bruce was a true servant and he will be missed.

Bruce was the son of the late Dewey and Hazel Ballard Phillips of Mars Hill. He is survived by his wife, Mildred Payne Phillips; brother Larry Joe Phillips and wife, Juanita of North Wilkesboro; brother-in-law Swann Payne and wife Joyce of Weaverville; sister-in-law Judith Morris and husband Sam of Asheville; niece DeLisa Anderson and husband Cody of North Wilkesboro; nephew Todd Phillips and wife Sharon of Mars Hill; nephew Matthew Morris and wife Shannon of Morganton; niece Traci Melton and husband Scott of Weaverville and nephew Eric Morris of Arden; special cousin Gary Phillips, special great-nephew Gabe Phillips and a special friend Greg DeVane all of Mars Hill; as well as many other great-nieces and nephews.

Bruce's family will receive friends at Blue Ridge Funeral Service in Mars Hill on Friday evening, November 1, from 4 until 8 pm. The funeral service will take place at Middle Fork Baptist Church in Mars Hill on Saturday afternoon, November 2, at 2 pm. Rev. Stanley Peek will officiate, with comments from special friends. Burial will follow in Mars Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.

Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to: Hot Springs Health Program, 590 Medical Park Drive, Marshall, N. C. 28753, earmarked for Mars Hill Medical Center.

Blue Ridge Funeral Service, Mar Hill is assisting the family.