Remembering Big Joe: An Innocent Life Lost

In Loving Memory of “Big Joe”

My name is Pearline A. Phillips. I am Joseph U. Phillips' mother.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the untimely and tragic passing of Joseph U. Phillips, affectionately known by many as Big Joe, Horse, Bear, Bose, or Slobba.

On what should have been a normal evening at D’Junction Island Bar and Restaurant — a place where Joseph was a familiar and loved patron — he stepped outside and found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, an argument broke out in the parking lot among other patrons. Amid the chaos, a suspect attempted to shoot someone else but struck Joseph instead. He was not involved in the altercation — just an innocent bystander caught in a senseless act of violence.

Joseph was more than a friend — he was a protector and a gentle giant. To know him was to feel safe in his presence. Whether you knew him as Big Joe, Horse, Bear, or Slobba, one thing remained the same: his loyalty, his kindness, and his larger-than-life personality.

In lieu of flowers, your generous outpouring of your love, will offset the costs of Joseph’s funeral in Orlando where he resides and his final resting place in St. Thomas USVI, where he was born and raised.

Join us in celebrating him by giving him the farewell he truly deserves. Every contribution, no matter the amount, will make a meaningful difference and help us, his loved ones, during this unimaginable time.

Thank you for your love, prayers, and support.

Rest in Power, Big Joe. You will be missed but never forgotten.