Phyllis Merritt Obituary

Phyllis June Merritt, age 86, has joined the Heavenly Choir. She passed away on August 3, 2025.

She was the third daughter of Earl and Willie Merritt of Elizabethton, Tennessee. Phyllis began her musical training by singing in both school and church choirs and playing the flute and piano. After receiving a B.S. in Music Education from East Tennessee State University, she taught elementary music in Kingsport, Tennessee, before moving to Florida, where she taught elementary, junior high, and high school choral music. She also served as choir director in several churches. Phyllis completed her Master's of Music Education at Florida State University in 1972.

During her teaching career, she conducted honors and all-state choruses throughout the United States. Eight choirs under her direction performed for the state, regional and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and three choirs made adjudicated European tours. She was chosen as Teacher of the Year for Okaloosa and Escambia counties as well as for Niceville High School, Meigs Junior High School, and Escambia High School. She was also honored as an Outstanding Secondary Educator of America in 1975.

Phyllis served as president of the Florida Vocal Association, the Florida ACDA, and the Southern Division of ACDA. She received the Wayne Hugoboom Distinguished Services Award (Florida ACDA, 1989), the Award for Excellence in Choral Arts (Southern Division ACDA, 2000), and the Distinguished Alumna in the Arts from East Tennessee State University in 1990.

After 30 years of teaching in public schools, Phyllis retired from Niceville High School in 1990. However, she remained sought after as an adjudicator, conductor, and clinician. She served as choir director at Trinity United Methodist Church in Fort Walton Beach until 1998.

In 2003, The Phyllis Merritt Singers was founded, bringing together singers and musicians from school and church choirs directed by Phyllis over the years. In addition to community concerts, they performed at the Pentagon, the National Holocaust Memorial, the nation's Capitol, and the Biltmore Estate.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents Earl and Willie Greene Merritt; sisters and brothers-in-law Darriel and Lewis Christoffel, Earline and William Taylor; and nephew William Taylor, Jr. She was also preceded in death by her best friend of 52 years, Anne Folsom.

She is survived by her loving nieces, nephews and their spouses Steve and Wanda Taylor, Jeff and Sandi Taylor, Jeanne and Nick Orach, Sandy and Barry Edgerton, Lew Christoffel and their extended families. She is mourned by her family members, the family of Anne Folsom, and many former students, colleagues and loving friends.

A Celebration of Life and Song will be held on Saturday September 20, 2025, at 10:00 am at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Walton Beach, where Phyllis was a faithful member. Her ashes will be buried in the Merritt plot in Happy Valley Cemetery in Elizabethton, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to The Music Ministry of First Presbyterian Church, 134 Beal Parkway SW, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548.