John Philip Allison, "Dr. Phil", 87, went peacefully to Heaven on Saturday, January 30, 2010, from Signature Health Care in Memphis. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Alta Mae Allison; son, Mike Allison (Vicki); daughter, Phyllis Hall (Ricky); son, Reid Allison (Misti); 9 grandchildren; one great-grandson; two brothers, Dr. Gray Allison and James Allison; one sister, Dr. Betty McNeese; and many other relatives. Philip was born May 11, 1922 in Ida, LA, to Ora Byram Allison and John Richard Preston Allison. He accepted Jesus as his Savior at 12 years of age. He graduated from Chillicothe Business College in 1939. He served in the Army Air Corp in WWII and later worked as an accountant. In 1950, he was "called to preach" and faithfully served as Pastor of seven Southern Baptist Churches in Louisiana, Alabama, and New Jersey from 1950 to 1972. He earned a Bachelor's degree from East Texas Baptist College in 1953 and Master's and Doctorate in Theology degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1972, he began serving on the first faculty of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary; he also served as Executive Vice President and Director of the Doctor of Theology Program. "Dr. Phil' retired from Mid-America in 1992, after being honored as Distinguished Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Greek. He was an active member of Ridgeway Baptist Church for 35 years. He loved sports, especially the LSU Tigers. "Dr. Phil" was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1992, yet did his best with his wife's help to stay active even as the disease got a tighter grip on his health over the next 18 years. He believed God put us in families and always prayed thankfully for the family God gave him. "Dr. Phil" is now walking briskly in Heaven and regained his ability to swing those arms! Visitation will be from 5PM to 7PM, on Monday, February 1, and 1PM to 2PM on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, 2095 Appling Road. The funeral services will be at 2:00PM on Tuesday, February 2nd at Mid-America. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery East. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials be sent to Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, 2095 Appling Road, Cordova, TN 38016; Ridgeway Baptist Church, 2500 Ridgeway Road, Memphis, TN 38119; or Mid-South Parkinson Disease Foundation, 6580 Poplar Avenue, #112, Germantown, TN 38138. Forest Hill Funeral Home East (Published in The Commercial Appeal on February 1, 2010)