Obituary of Georgina Phyllis Phelps

July 21, 2023, Georgina Phyllis Phelps, 88, of London England, passed away peacefully at Prisma Health Baptist Hospital with her daughters at her side. Around 8 pm that evening, the clouds lifted, and she was ushered into heaven.

Georgina led an amazing life. She was four years old when World War II began and she told stories of walking to school with a gas mask on as the bomb sirens pealed around her, and grabbing her beloved little dog as she ran to the bomb shelter at all times of the day and night. Georgina’s parents owned the local corner store where she worked before and after school. Loading paper sacks of coal and slicing bacon rashers were just two of her jobs!

Georgina left home at 14 years old to become a dancer. Her troupe toured Germany where she ultimately met her husband, Marine Corps First Sargent, Peter Phelps. They married and settled in America where Georgina pursued hairdressing. She opened and ran many very successful salons and enjoyed the creativity and teaching of the craft.

After divorcing many years later, Georgina returned to England. Eager for some changes, she studied a new profession and became the warden for a large nursing home facility. After much success, she was approached by a representative from Saudi Arabia and offered a position running the palace in Riyad for Prince Sultan Bin Salman Al Saud. Loving travel and adventure, she eagerly accepted. Many challenges and opportunities were presented as Georgina was immersed in this totally different culture and language. She loved her position and the royal family. She met many revered dignitaries including Bill Clinton and her personal favorite, Nelson Mandela. After Saudi, Georgina accepted another position which took her to the palaces of Oman.

Amidst turmoil in the middle east at the tender age of 73, Georgina was ready to slow down a bit and consider retiring. It was always a dream of hers to have a beach house on a small island where she could enjoy the locals and “island life”. With that goal in mind, she headed to Roatan, an island in the Honduras, where she built a home and a new life. Never one to sit still for long, she made lots of friends and before you knew it she was running Cabana Roatana, a small beachfront resort. Georgina loved her 5 years in Roatan, but it was commercializing rapidly, and she was once again ready for a change.

At 78 years old, she decided to move back to the states to be closer to family, settling down in Columbia, South Carolina. Georgina continued to travel visiting Australia, South America, the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, and of course, regular visits home to Jolly Ole England just to name a few! Georgina loved cooking, painting, gardening, and writing. She loved her family fiercely and always ready with advice and stories of the past. Her friends and neighbors fondly looked forward to catching her nightly on her front porch as she wound down the evening with a glass of scotch. No matter where she went, Georgina captivated people and quickly made new friends.

Georgina is survived by her daughters, Lisa, Gee, Paisley, and Michelle, her brother, Barry, her cousin, Carol Anne, her grandchildren Kolt, Kash, Selena, Erica, Sabrina, Kurt, and Erik and her great grandchildren, Mason, Reaghan, Ryker, Deklin, Maklyn, and Alexander.

Georgina did not wish for a funeral or service, instead wanting you to raise a glass and “have a drink with her” with Frank Sinatra singing “you’ll never walk alone” in the background and finishing the toast with Vera Lynn’s “We’ll meet again”.

In parting, Georgina would say "I’m proud of the woman I am today because I went through one hell of a time becoming her!” Cheers!

South Carolina Cremation Society is assisting the family. Family and friends may sign the online guest book by clicking on the “Tribute Wall” tab above.