Vernon Ishkemia Phifer entered this world on November 23, 1979, in Aberdeen, MS.  He was born to the loving parents of Vernon Lee Phifer and Leanna Jones Phifer.

Vernon, affectionately known as "Peter Pan" confessed his belief in Christ at an early age and became a member of the United Christian Baptist Church.  In 1997, he made a commitment to God by accepting his calling into the ministry where he served as an associate minister from 1997-2001, under the leadership of Pastor Jesse D. Sherron.

He was educated in the Columbus Municipal School District and was a 1998 graduate of Columbus High School.  He also attended East Mississippi Community College and Long Beach Bible College where he obtained an Associate Degree in Biblical Studies. He later relocated to California, where he became a Security Officer for the Port of Los Angeles from 2005-2015 and served as the Youth Pastor for North Long Beach Ministry Center in Long Beach, California.

On May 5, 2007, He married the love of his life, Charonda Williams and to this union, they have been blessed with two beautiful children.

Rev. Phifer relocated to Southaven, MS where he served as a Security Officer for Baptist Memorial Hospital-Desoto and a Pharmacy Care Advocate for Proxsy's Rx.  In 2017, he became the proud pastor of Pontotoc Second Baptist Church.

Rev. Phifer was a man after the Heart of God.  He loved people and spending time with his family. Vernon loved watching sports; his favorite teams were the Los Angeles Lakers and San Francisco 49ers. Vernon had an exceptional green thumb. He was known to grow several varieties of pepper plants each year. He never met a stranger or skipped an opportunity to minister to someone.  All who knew Vernon knew of his strong love for his children. He was the loudest supporter at any of their events.

Rev. Phifer transitioned into eternal rest on September 20, 2023 in Memphis, TN. He is preceded in death by: his father, Vernon Lee Phifer; his grandparents, Jesse Jones, Sr., Georgia Mae Jones, and Eliza Phifer; and his father-in-law, Ronald Williams.

He leaves to cherish his loving memories:  his beautiful wife, Charonda Phifer; two children,  Kenley Elizabeth and William Kingston Phifer all of Southaven, MS; his parents Leanna and Stanley Jackson of Columbus, MS; his sisters, Katie Simmonds, Angela Phifer, Tammy Stone, and Tiffany Phifer all of Columbus, MS; his aunt, Carma (Gerald) Himes of Inglewood, CA; his uncles, Jesse Jones of Columbus, MS, Harold Phifer of Dallas Texas and Timothy Phifer of Columbus, MS; his mother-in-law, Diane Lindsey of Pontotoc, MS;  his sister-in-law, Chrishon (Christopher) Washington of Pontotoc, MS; his brother-in-law, Michael (Cleo) Williams of Jackson, MS. He also leaves a host of other relatives and friends.