Hard Times and True Crimes

111. The Phillips Family Murders: Winston-Salem’s New Year’s Eve Tragedy (1947)


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On New Year’s Eve, 1947, Winston-Salem was still glowing with Christmas decorations when a tragedy unfolded that shocked Forsyth County and made headlines across the state of North Carolina. 

 Everett and Margaret Phillips were a devoted couple who waited eight years for their only child, Tommy Lee. They poured their lives into him, indulging him with love, music, and opportunity. But when young love, secrets, and defiance collided, the results were catastrophic.

🎙️ Featuring:

•Male narration by Curtis Hildreth

•Storytelling for this episode by Darlene Hildreth

•Reactions for this episode  by Melody Gwyn

•Original music by Isaiah Hildreth


📚 Sources:

•Newspaper archives (Winston-Salem Journal, Greensboro Daily News, and others via Newspapers.com)

•Forsyth County records

•FindAGrave.com

•Forsyth County Public Library (https://northcarolinaroom.wordpress.com/2015/08/16/bessie-ruth-tommy-lee-a-tragedy/)

•NC State Archives



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Hard Times and True CrimesBy Darlene Hildreth and Melody Gwyn