Albert L. Phillips, Jr. was born in Kinston, North Carolina to Albert L. Phillips, Sr. and Bonnie Jarman Phillips in 1939.
He enlisted in the Navy in the summer of 1957. His boot training was done at Bainbridge, Maryland. He was then assigned to the USS Neptune, a cable layer. The Neptune's home port was Norfolk, Virginia. He did duty in the Pacific, the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean. After an honorable discharge, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve and was an active reservist for the next twenty-three years.

In his civilian life Phillips had a fulfilling career in Law Enforcement. He retired from the Lenoir County Sheriff's Department as Captain of Detectives. After retirement he was appointed as a Lenoir County magistrate and remained in that position until his death in November, 2000. Phillips was married to Jane Gradeless and was the father of Linda Phillips Hill, Bobby T. Phillips and Jimmy A. Phillips.

Albert Phillips was always proud of his service to his country and took pride in the United States Navy.