Phillip “Phill” Lawrence Appling was born on November 15, 1970, in Detroit, Michigan to Lavenia Appling Cook and Charles A. Yowell.  Phillip accepted Christ at an early age. Phillip was educated in the Detroit Public School system, attending Mason Elementary School, Brooks Middle School, Cooley High and later, Northwestern High School. 

During his childhood, Phillip enjoyed bowling and played football for the Broncos, both were under Detroit’s PAL organization. He also played basketball with his favorite cousins and they were a very tight knit circle. Phillip began cutting hair at a very young age of 12.  His first haircut was a neighbor that lived across the street. Lathet wasn’t available and Phill said “I can do it!”, and he did just that. The neighbors mom was so upset when she saw his head, it was so bad, they had to shave his head. After that moment, Lathet told him, “Never put the clippers down, keep going.”,  and he never did. Phill attended school for cosmetology and he became an entrepreneur for over 30 years. He gained a reputation for being one of the best barbers in Detroit.  He also cut hair for rappers,  Doug E. Fresh and Bushwick Bill (Gheto Boys) during his career.  He was more than a barber to many of his clients. You could go to him and express yourself and he was going to give you his honest opinion on any situation. When you sat in his chair you got more than a haircut, you were transformed.

He was innovative and very creative.  He would bribe his little sister Lisa  so she wouldn’t tell on him by making toys out of cardboard boxes. It worked all the time. Phillip had a  sense of humor that was so infectious he could have you laughing in seconds. He would tell people that him and his sister Charlene were twins. People would wonder how when their birthdays were different. They were Irish and that was their inside joke. Phill loved to spend time with his family and friends on any occasion, especially if there was food involved. Phill enjoyed game nights at his sister’s house and loved winning prizes. He was a huge sports fan for all of the Detroit teams.   He even named his son after Michael Jordan and Latrell Spreewell. Phillip took pride in his old school cars and was known to cruise around alone or with his children (as long as it was not pass 8 mile :) )

 His legacy lives on through his children: Teriah, Tranell, Phillip Jr, Jordan, Faith (Chalonia), Philesia and Lavenia.  Sisters; Charlene, Lisa (James) and Monique . Brothers; Willie (Tianna), Charles Anthony (Amy) and Jamar.  Grandchildren; Tamiya, Tayloure, Trinity, Legacy, Taliya, Lauryn, Marcellas Jr., Mari and a host of nieces, nephews,  family and friends.

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