With Valentine's Day approaching, love is in the air for Marilyn Sutton and George Phillips Jr., two Double Bears who found love at Mercer School of Law. Sutton, who has been serving as the assistant dean of admissions and financial aid at Mercer School of Law for almost 25 years, and Phillips, who graduated from Mercer with degrees in chemistry and later pursued a legal career, first met at a law school admissions event in 2010.
"I remember shaking his hand for the first time at the reception. He was very nice and had a funny sense of humor," Sutton said.
Their connection continued to grow as they corresponded about typical admitted-student issues during the spring and summer. It was during orientation in the fall that Sutton noticed Phillips standing in line, and he winked at her.
"He grinned and winked at me. I thought, 'Is he flirting with me? Did he just wink at me?'" Sutton recalled.
Their relationship blossomed, and they got engaged in April 2011 and tied the knot in May 2012 on St. Simons Island. Sutton described their wedding day as the best day of her life.
Sutton, who started her career as the director of financial aid at Tift College in Forsyth, has dedicated her professional life to supporting students at Mercer School of Law. She has seen students progress through law school and become members of the legal community, forming meaningful relationships along the way.
"It is so satisfying to meet a student at the beginning of their legal journey and watch them grow," Sutton said.
As for Phillips, his passion for learning and pursuing new interests led him to a career in medicine before eventually deciding to pursue law. Sutton believes that his familiarity with Mercer, having attended undergraduate school there, played a role in his decision to choose the law school. And she likes to think that she had a little something to do with it too.
Today, Phillips has his own law firm in Macon, specializing in medical malpractice.
Reflecting on their relationship, Sutton expressed her love and admiration for Phillips.
"I love so many things about George. He is always striving to learn new things and can always make me laugh," she said. "We have a wonderful life that we share with our English cocker spaniel, Beau."
As Valentine's Day approaches, the love story of Marilyn Sutton and George Phillips Jr. serves as a reminder that sometimes, love can be found in unexpected places, even at a law school admissions event.