Phillip Andrew Shuford

Dr. Phillip Shuford (October 8, 1959 - December 29, 2025)

On December 29th, 2025, Dr. Phillip Shuford, 66, of Ozark, MO, went home to be with the Lord after a hard-fought battle with cancer and is now in the presence of our God Almighty for eternity. Since 2013, Dr. Shuford has touched countless lives across Southern Missouri and beyond as the Director of Missions for the Tri-County Baptist Association and an active member of the First Baptist Church of Ozark.

In 1959, Dr. Shuford was born in Winston-Salem, NC, into the loving Christian home of Gene and Margaret Shuford, who hailed from the Appalachian Mountains near Weaverville, NC. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at age 9, a decision that he considered the most important decision of his life. After graduating from Parkland High School, Phill was off to Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, NC, where he majored in Sociology and Spanish. Fluent in Spanish, he served as a Journeyman Missionary abroad from 1981-1983 in Peru. Phill later earned his Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX, and in 2018, earned his Doctor of Ministry and Master of Theology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO.

Dr. Shuford’s life was defined by his service to the Lord. He served in various roles such as pastor, interim pastor, minister of education, and worship leader in churches across Texas, Florida, and North Carolina; often leveraging his bilingual talents to reach Hispanic communities. Additionally, he served as Church and Community Ministries and Church Development Director for two Baptist Associations. Upon becoming Director of Missions for the Tri-County Baptist Association of Southern Missouri in 2013, his passion for pastors and churches flourished during annual encampments that he helped run at the Baptist Hill Assembly, deeply shaping the spiritual lives of many, both youth and adults alike.

Dr. Shuford had a profound awe of God’s Creation, which inspired his love for astronomy. He was often found in his front yard gazing in wonder at the heavens through his homemade telescope. He also loved NASA and launching model rockets into the heavens. Phill was also a gifted pianist with an impressive repertoire of praise and worship songs committed to memory.

Dr. Shuford leaves behind the love of his life, wife Elsy of 23 years, daughter Andrea (a student of Evangel University, studying Journalism and Music), and son Andrew (a student of Southwest Baptist University, studying Engineering and Music), his older brother David of Winston-Salem, NC, younger sister Genna Shuford Johnson of Greensboro, Georgia, and his loyal dog Toto (a Cairn Terrier who never left Phill’s side in the latter days). He was preceded in death by his parents, Gene and Margaret Shuford of Winston-Salem, NC.

A friend to so many, Dr. Phillip Shuford was a pillar of faith whose wisdom and steady counsel were constant sources of strength. To know Phill was to appreciate the immense value he was to his earthly community and will continue to be for the Kingdom of God. He closed his life with a golden clasp of a testimony of peace and strength in the midst of his affliction. His love and faith in the Lord never wavered, and now he has met his Savior face to face and will stand in his presence forever. He was a light for Christ, a role model to all, and now forever in His Grace.

Service will be held at First Baptist Church of Ozark on January 3rd at 11 am. Viewing and family visitation will be prior to the service from 9-11 am. After the service, they will proceed to the burial site at Roberts Cemetery. 

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Adams Funeral Home, Ozark. 

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested for donations to be made to: First Baptist Church Ozark for The Great Commission Funds: www.shelbygiving.com/app/giving/fbcozark or to Special projects for the Baptist Hill Assembly, for the summer camp he loved so much. Mail a check to: Baptist Hill Assembly, PO Box 491, Mt. Vernon, MO 65712