Philip Alexander Pigford, beloved father, brother, and friend passed away at his childhood home in East Memphis on March 21  ^st  , 2022 at the age of 40.

Philip was born on April 9, 1981 and was a lifelong Memphian. One of five children, Philip wore his heart on his sleeve and performed acts of service for family and friends throughout his entire life. Philip picked up this honorable characteristic from his mother and father, Mary Ann and Thomas H. Pigford. He was a graduate of St. Benedict at Auburndale in Cordova, TN, where he thrived in sports. Philip played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track and cross country in his junior high and high school years. He even had a brief stint of riding horses, until a Shetland pony, by the name of Dapple Apple, threw him off at the ripe age of 6. That ultimately ended his equestrian career, but he remained intrigued and comfortable around horses and was an avid animal lover throughout his life.

Philip was known for always lending a helping hand at the Germantown Charity Horse Show, where his mother, Mary Ann, served for 20 years. If you didn't see him sprinting up and down the hill between the show office and the announcers stand, delivering show results and class entries, then you most likely saw him on a golf cart that he may or may not have hijacked for fun.

Many times, horse show exhibitors would hear the intercom in the barns requesting "Philip Pigford please return to the show office with the golf cart." As he grew older and show officials learned to take the keys out of their golf carts, he served as "jump crew" for the show jumping classes held in the main arena. He loved his time at the Germantown Charity Horse Show and shared his adventure-seeking fun with friends and his sisters throughout his childhood and teenage years. He would later return and bring his own family to the show to share the tradition with them.

Following high school graduation, Philip attended Ole Miss. Raised as an avid Ole Miss Rebel, the Grove was another sacred playground in Philip's adolescent years. Every Saturday during football season the Pigfords would load up food and their bundle of kids to make the trip to the Grove for football games and other sporting events. Leave it to Philip to find an arcade on campus and use every quarter in his dad's pocket by the end of the day. After attending Ole Miss for one year, he enlisted in the Army and the Mississippi National Guard.

Philip was a United States Army Veteran, serving in the Iraq War. His service to his country and the bond and relationships he made with his fellow serviceman and veterans is one of the things he was most proud of in his life. Even though Philip was the only son out of five children, the men he served with became his brothers until the end of his life. The National Guard and Army was where Philip's heart was happy and his spirit thrived. His time in the military was the calling of his life.

After serving his country, Philip returned home to Memphis and met his wife, Debra Nations Pigford, of eight years. Together they had a son, Ganon Liam Pigford, 7, and two stepsons, Michael, 24 and Jaxon, 14, and a stepdaughter, Myla, 16. Philip always wanted to be a father. Ever since he was a young boy, he was wonderful with children. His baby cousins and nieces and nephews gravitated towards his infectious smile, goofy personality, and gentle heart. He was a human jungle gym and jokester with all children. He loved his stepsons and his stepdaughter as his own, and his son Ganon was his whole world. He wanted nothing more than to be a family man and provide for his family.

Philip's family will remember his life of service as his legacy. He was a rambunctious and funny younger and big brother to his sisters. His energy and laughter could brighten anyone's day. Known as "Piggy" to his friends he encouraged his teammates on his sports teams to "keep at it" and to continue to work hard. He has been described as a person who would give the shirt off his back. He was known to have a good heart, "a heart of gold" and a person who always wanted to help anyone in need. He was known as a goofy and playful father, brother, uncle, and friend. No matter the circumstance, you'd always leave with a story of something funny or crazy Philip did while you were with him.

Philip is survived by his parents, Mary Ann and Tom Pigford; his wife Debra and his son Ganon, and stepchildren, Michael, Myla and Jaxon; his three older sisters, Ashlee Pigford, Hillary (Fran) Rizzi, Erin (Ryan) Rainer and his younger sister, Lauren (Chad) Abbott. He his also survived by nieces and nephews, Taylor, and Simon (Rizzi), Presley and Harper (Rainer) and Josephine (Abbott) and many cousins.

Philip is now at peace and joins other veteran brothers he served with in Iraq and in the National Guard. His family and friends know they will be reunited with Philip, and he will be the first person to show them around heaven when they arrive.

A Visitation and Memorial Mass will be held on April 2, 2022, at St. Philip's the Apostle Catholic Church, 11710 US-64, Somerville, TN 38068. Visitation will be held from 10- 11 am with the Memorial Mass to follow at 11:30 pm.

If you wish to make a donation in Philip's honor, please consider donations to Alpha Omega Veterans Services:  https://www.alphaomegaveterans.org/donate  or to Warhorses for Heroes:  https://warhorsesforheroes.org/product-category/donations-and-sponsorships/  .