The Capital Rivers Church of Christ in Montgomery County, Maryland wishes to announce the passing of their lead evangelist, Phil Booker. Phil passed just before his 50th birthday on November 27th after a heroic two-year battle with lymphoma. He was surrounded by his family and left an impacting legacy behind. The family wishes to gather any memories, stories and photos of Phil at Forever Missed. 

Please see official obituary and memorial details below. 

On a cold winter day, Bernard Phillip Booker III (Phil) burst into the New Year on January 4, 1975, to proud parents Bernard Phillip Booker, Jr. and Karen Victoria (Booker) Brown. He came into this world with the same exuberant joy with which he would come to live out his almost 50 years of life. Born and raised in Baltimore and known as “Little Phil” to his family, he was a tried and true Baltimore Ravens fan. Because of his enthusiasm for the Ravens, it’s no wonder that purple was his favorite color. 

Phil affectionately bore the title of being a “mama’s boy,” and he inherited his ingenuity for building and creating from his father. As a young child, Phil was responsible and the kind of kid that always looked after his brother. He was full of energy, laughter, and a boyish charm, which continued into his adulthood. Phil graduated from the Boys’ Latin School in 1993. He excelled not only socially and academically, but also played varsity basketball, football, and baseball. He was inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame in October 2024 as one of Boys’ Latin most successful student-athletes. 

After high school, Phil attended the University of Maryland, where he also played football. Go Terps! He graduated with a degree in Fire Protection Engineering in 1999. Phil always had a deep appreciation for sports, comedy, sci-fi movies, and “winning” at spades, and he soon took his fun-loving nature into the next phase of his life. While in college, Phil made the life-altering decision to become a disciple of Jesus Christ and was baptized into him on June 4,1995. From that moment on, Phil dedicated his entire being to serving God, entering the full-time ministry upon graduating.

Phil’s life was marked by an unshakable devotion to God, a passion for spreading his Word, and a deep love for his people.  For over 25 years, he poured himself out in faithful service, touching countless lives with humility, deep convictions, and compassion.  In 2007, Phil was proudly appointed as an evangelist – a role he wholeheartedly embraced. 

His warmth and deep love for people made ministry the perfect calling for Phil since, in his world, no one was a stranger. Phil’s ministry extended to churches in Baltimore, MD; Charlottesville, VA; Richmond, VA; Hampton Roads, VA; and Montgomery County, MD. He was faithful and trustworthy in every aspect of his life, embodying the essence of what it means to be a servant of Christ.  He had a unique gift for making everyone feel seen, valued, and embraced – an embodiment of Jesus’ love in action. Like Christ, he loved to walk together with the saints, equipping them for works of service. Phil’s purpose was clear: to glorify God by tirelessly living out his calling, as he longed to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

What brought him his greatest joy and the biggest smile on his face was the adventurous life he built with his breathtaking and beautiful wife of 24 years, Ayhanna Tamar. Their friendship grew into endearing love, and they married on December 9, 2000. Together, they have been blessed with three amazing children, Phillip IV (20), Ashton (18), and Olivia (16), with whom there has never been a dull moment. Phil considered his role as a husband and father his most important and rewarding one. He never failed to talk to everyone he met about his great love, tenderness, and admiration for Ayhanna and the immense joy he felt for each of his loving children. He took the responsibility of fatherhood seriously and wore his pride for his children like a badge of honor. He never failed to affectionately show his family how very much he loved them. 

Phil fought a beautiful and gracious fight against cancer using the divine weapons given by God – gratitude, kindness, scripture, prayer, and the support of family and friends. His genuine joy and love continued to show even throughout his cancer journey. His light shined bright with the many doctors, nurses, and other medical staff whose lives he touched, and despite being sick, he continued to serve his family and friends whenever he had the strength. He made sure to express his love and gratitude to everyone continuously. On the day before Thanksgiving, with unwavering faith and peace, he gently said goodbye to this world and his family and headed toward his home in heaven. 

Those to whom he brought the most joy and will remember him with the greatest fondness and love are his beloved wife, Ayhanna; his children, Phillip, Ashton, and Olivia; his devoted mother, Karen Brown (Marty); father Bernard Booker, Jr.;  brother Donte’ Booker (Shermaine), sister Brielle Booker, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, and an enormous and grateful church family.

Though we are rejoicing with Phil that he has fought the good fight and completed the good works God had set out for him to do, we also acknowledge that those of us who have known and loved him deeply feel the pain, grief, and sorrow of losing him too soon. We will miss the twinkle of his eyes, his bright smile, big hugs, and his deep down-in-your-belly laugh. No one loved like Phil loved!

We celebrate Phil – a giant personality overflowing with endless joy – remembering his silly antics, spiritual leadership, adventurous spirit, acts of kindness, bold character, and a life simply well lived. Together, we will mourn with hope and rejoice in the legacy that he has left behind for all of us to imitate and honor. 

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” – Psalm 30:5 (NKJV).

Phil, you are loved, now and forever.

Memorial details

  • December 20 from 4-7 pm: Visitation at Vaughn Greene Funeral Home in Randallstown, MD
  • December 21:
    • 11 am – Memorial service at Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, MD
    • 1:30 pm – Repast