May 31, 2026, 96, Goldsboro – Nina Marie Phillips Cordell, 96, entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on Sunday, May 31, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Having faithfully served Christ throughout her life, she now rejoices in the eternal home prepared for her.
Marie was born on May 3, 1930, in Overton County, Tennessee, to the late Herchel and Tilda Looper Phillips. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Rev. Richard R. Cordell, with whom she shared a lifelong commitment to serving the Lord and spreading the Gospel.
Together, Marie and Richard faithfully answered God’s call to ministry. Over the course of more than 54 years, they served Free Will Baptist churches across Indiana, Tennessee, and Alabama. Following their retirement in Guin, Alabama, they continued their ministry at Faith Free Will Baptist Church in Goldsboro. Their greatest joy was sharing the love of Christ to everyone they met, inviting others to church, and leading souls to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
While Marie worked for a time at General Motors, her greatest calling and joy was caring for her family and raising her children in a Christian home. Her love for children later led her to serve as a daycare supervisor for 25 years, where she nurtured and influenced countless young lives with patience, kindness, and Christian values.
Marie was a devoted pastor’s wife, a faithful church member, and a woman of unwavering faith. She lived a life marked by humility, compassion, and a steadfast dedication to the Lord. Her legacy of faithfulness will continue to inspire all who knew and loved her.
The family will receive friends on Friday, June 5, 2026 from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. at Faith Free Will Baptist Church followed by a service to celebrate her life at 3:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. A private interment for the family will be in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery immediately following the service.
She leaves behind her cherished children, Peggy Sloan and husband, Walter, of Goldsboro; Michael Cordell and wife, Lisa, of St. Augustine, Florida; Nancy Cox and husband, David, of Seattle, Washington; and Ginger Baines and husband, Bob, of Cumming, Georgia. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren: Matthew and Alice Cordell, Misty and Clint Dosio, Kailyn and Kevin Cheung, Mark and Carrie Twine, Rachel McLean, Andrew and Kaylah Cox, Dave and Charity Coffey, Rebekah and Tom Hepner, Anna and Justin Olsen, Amanda and Steven Montepeque, April and Jake Joines, Ashley and Jonathan McNeese, and Amy and Ethan Bolinger; great-grandchildren, Chensley Dosio, Clinton Dosio, Camden Dosio, Olivia Cordell, Luke Twine, Elizabeth Twine, Liam Cheung, Eleanor Cheung, Juddson Olsen, Emma Olsen, Barrett Olsen, Laynee Olsen, Laylah Hepner, Violet Coffey, Levi Coffey, Wesley Coffey, Larry McLean V, Ashlyn McLean, Addison McLean, Justin Cox, Emberly Cox, Emily Montepeque, Leslie Joines, Steven Montepeque, Landon Joines, Ella Montepeque, Alice McNeese, Lillian Joines, Luke Joines, Samuel Montepeque, Silas Montepeque, Amy Jane McNeese and Andie Bolinger; as well as three sisters, Mildred Linder and husband, J.E., Estelle Tosh and husband, Charles, and Wanda Pugh and husband, Al; and one brother, Roger Phillips and wife, Frances.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her grandson, Stephen Ray Sloan; great-grandchildren, Alana Hepner and Shane Coffey; two sisters and one brother.
Though her family grieves her passing, they rejoice in the assurance that she is now reunited with her husband and countless loved ones in Heaven, worshiping the Savior she faithfully served throughout her life.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the ministry of Faith Free Will Baptist Church, 1200 W. Grantham Street, Goldsboro, NC 27534.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
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