Obituaries

Phyllis Lanter Campbell, 77, passed away Sunday, April 12, 2026 at home with her family by her side. Phyllis was born in the Green Valley Community outside of Fries, Va. on August 23, 1948. She was the daughter of the late Robert Lanter, Jr. and the late Juanita Anders Lanter. She was the loving and devoted wife of the late John White Campbell for 38 years, until his death in 2012. Phyllis and her husband, Dr. Jack, moved to Brookneal, Va. in 1974 and opened the Brookneal Medical Center. She worked alongside her husband until she retired in 1995. She cared deeply about the Town Of Brookneal and it’s residents. She was a member of the Brookneal Town Council from 1998-2002. She was then elected Mayor of Brookneal in July 2002 and served as mayor until she retired in December 2018. Following her retirement, she was appointed back to the Brookneal Town Council from 2019 until 2020 to fill the council term for the newly elected mayor. She was the Brookneal Lion’s Club Citizen of the Year in 2015. She was a long-term member of the Brookneal United Methodist Church, where she served several Leadership rolls. Phyllis and “Dr. Jack” were avid UVA fans attending many UVA football games throughout their life- Go Hoos!!! She cherished her family, friends, and the Brookneal Community. She was a devout Christian who loved the Lord. Her final wish here on earth was for everyone to be saved and join her in heaven. She is survived by one daughter, Vaneta K. Hunt (Bruce); two sons, James Stewart Campbell (Vickie) of Phoenix, Az., and Joseph Meriwether Campbell (Lynne) of Parkland, Fl.; Six grandchildren, Alexandra Hunt Jack (Ryan) of Brookneal, Va., Dr. John W. Campbell III (Ali) of Charleston, S.C., Paul Campbell (Kimberly) and Scott Campbell (Lindsey) both of Phoenix Az., Seth Campbell and Sarah Gammon; Uncle Rev. Charles Anders; Aunt Teresa Sharp; Cousin and best friend Jerry Sumner Riffey; Nine great-grandchildren. In her later years, she was extremely blessed and thankful to spend time with her great-granddaughter Charlotte White Jack. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her grandparents, Robert Lanter, Sr. and Nellie Boyles Lanter, and Thomas and Bessie Anders; three sons, Dr. John W. Campbell, Jr., Jeremy Lewis Campbell, and Jeffrey Douglas Campbell; brother-in-law, Theodore “Gene” Harrison Campbell and his wife Jackie Campbell. The family would like to say a special thank you to all of her caregivers, “Her Girls”, Centra Home Health, and Centra Hospice. The family will recieve friends on Sunday, April 19, 2026 from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at Henderson Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service will be conducted Monday, April 20, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at Brookneal Baptist Church by the Rev. Allan Murphy and Rev. Matthew Killmon. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or Brookneal United Methodist Church. Henderson Funeral Home and Cremation is assisting the family.