Meet Phyllis Robertson Thomas: The Untold Story Behind the Name

A DNA test in October 2019 changed Phyllis Robertson Thomas’s life completely at age 44. Her simple interest in ancestry led to an extraordinary revelation – she was Phil Robertson’s daughter. Phil Robertson was the prominent patriarch of the “Duck Dynasty” family.

The test results shook everything she knew about her family history. Her sister Doressa took a DNA test too and ended up confirming they were half-siblings. Their family tree’s roots held unexpected surprises. This discovery took Phyllis on a remarkable trip of self-discovery that brought her into a new family she never imagined would be part of her life.

Early Life and Career Path

Phyllis Robertson Thomas was born in Ruston, Louisiana in 1975 and showed signs of independence early in life. She felt different from her siblings during childhood and noticed distinct physical, personality, and emotional traits that made her unique in her family.

Growing up in a loving home

Life changed for Phyllis when she moved in with a supportive family at age 14, despite her challenging teenage years. This new home became the place where she discovered her spiritual path through church activities and developed her love for reading. These formative years and her academic success became the foundations for her future achievements.

Experience into nursing

Phyllis answered her calling in healthcare by attending Crowder College to earn her nursing degree. Her desire to serve others took her to Managua, Nicaragua, where she worked as a missionary nurse and taught at a Christian academy. She later strengthened her medical knowledge by completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

Building her own family

Phyllis moved to Missouri at 17 to be near her siblings and her boyfriend Tony. Their relationship blossomed, and they married right after high school, starting their life together. The couple welcomed two sons, Grant and Joel. Phyllis chose to stay home with her children until her youngest started kindergarten.

Her personal and professional growth continued steadily. She completed her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Liberty University’s online program. After returning to the United States, she worked as a dialysis nurse. She now serves as an inpatient psychiatric nurse and plans to become a nurse-counselor by 2024.

Her family circle has grown beautifully. She watches her children create their own families with pride and has welcomed two daughters-in-law warmly. Life has blessed her with a new role as “Nana,” which she treasures deeply.

The Life-Changing DNA Test

A simple Christmas gift in 2017 set off a chain of events that brought hidden family secrets to light. Grant, Phyllis Robertson Thomas’s oldest son, got an Ancestry DNA kit from his girlfriend Julie. She thought it would be a nice way for him to learn about his family history.

Christmas surprise of 2017

The results came before Christmas, tucked away under the tree. The test results didn’t bring holiday cheer but raised unexpected questions about Grant’s ethnicity. Phyllis’s brother Roger quickly spotted something crucial – their known heritage was wrong, or he and Phyllis had different fathers.

Phyllis felt more resigned than confused or upset. She had always noticed she was different from her siblings, both in looks and personality. When she had asked her mother about her real father before, she got only mumbled answers that made her more doubtful.

Processing the results

Phyllis took her own DNA test in October 2019 after months of soul-searching. The results backed up what she had started to suspect – she and her sister were half-siblings. She learned the hard truth on November 30, 2019 – the man who raised her wasn’t her biological father.

Phyllis didn’t dwell on this news. She poured her energy into finding her biological father. The search gave her something to focus on while dealing with her mixed feelings of grief and loss. Her first ray of hope came from a phone call with a kind first cousin who helped her see her story as one of redemption.

The DNA results showed she was a 99.9% match with Phil Robertson. Phyllis showed great care when she reached out to Phil’s sons first. She wanted to know if building a relationship made sense, especially given how it might affect Phil’s wife, Miss Kay.

The story came out that Phyllis was born from a time of unfaithfulness and drinking problems before Phil became the person he is today. All the same, Phyllis chose forgiveness and grace instead of bitterness. She knew she couldn’t change what happened, but she could decide how this discovery would shape her future.

Meeting Phil Robertson

Phyllis’s first phone call with her newfound family unleashed a flood of emotions. She connected with a compassionate first cousin through tears who assured her this discovery was a story of redemption. Phyllis reached out to Phil’s sons with remarkable care for their mother Kay’s feelings.

First phone call

The Robertson family welcomed Phyllis with open hearts after confirming their relation. Jep Robertson couldn’t contain his excitement and shared how he had always wanted a big sister. The connection between Jase Robertson and Phyllis clicked right away. He told his wife Missy, “I really like her” after they first met.

The emotional first meeting

Phyllis met her biological father at Monroe Airport on February 21, 2020. Her newfound relatives greeted her as she stepped off the plane. Phil’s first words, “I had no idea,” brought her immense relief. His words helped her show grace and compassion. She knew it would have crushed her if he had known about her existence but never looked for her.

Building new relationships

The bond between Phyllis and the Robertson family grew naturally. Kay Robertson, Phil’s wife, showed incredible grace by embracing Phyllis as the daughter she had always prayed for. Their connection deepened through shared moments – Phil taught Phyllis how to make crawfish au gratin and they celebrated their first Father’s Day together at church.

The whole family welcomed Phyllis with open arms. Phil’s granddaughter Sadie shared a lunch date with her newfound aunt and marveled at their connection. They’ve shared many milestones together – Christmas gatherings, family baptisms, and duck hunting adventures. Phyllis and her husband Tony made a heartfelt decision to move next door to Phil and Miss Kay. This choice helped them build deeper bonds with their newfound family members.

Impact on Family Dynamics

A beautiful story of forgiveness and acceptance emerged when two families became one. Kay Robertson welcomed Phyllis with open arms from the start. Kay had no blood ties to Phyllis but treated her like the daughter she always wanted.

Blending two families

The family bonds grew stronger when Phyllis and her husband Tony moved next door to Phil and Kay. This closeness led to spontaneous family gatherings and deeper connections. They built precious memories through family traditions – making jelly at Phyllis’s house and celebrating holidays as one big family.

The Robertsons welcomed their new sister and aunt with open hearts. Phil’s granddaughter Sadie Robertson shared a touching lunch with Phyllis and marveled at their special bond. The family makes sure Phyllis joins all their celebrations, from Christmas to Easter gatherings.

Supporting her children through change

Phyllis struck a perfect balance between respecting her past and embracing her new family ties. Her sons Joel and Kendall adapted smoothly to their bigger family circle. The quiet Joel and outgoing Kendall found their own special place in the Robertson family.

Love and genuine acceptance marked their journey into the Robertson family. Phil stepped into his role as grandfather to Phyllis’s children with joy. He shared family traditions and wisdom with them. Their bond grew stronger through theological talks and duck hunting adventures.

Kay’s amazing ability to forgive helped create this harmonious family bond. Korie Robertson put it best: “Kay, from day one, just welcomed her with opened arms. She became part of the family very early on”. This warm welcome helped both families grow closer while honoring each other’s traditions.

Conclusion

Phyllis Robertson Thomas’s story shows the incredible power of truth, forgiveness and family bonds. A simple DNA test result led to an amazing trip of finding that brought two families together in extraordinary ways.

Kay and the Robertson family welcomed Phyllis as their daughter right away. Their quick acceptance turned a potentially difficult situation into a joyful celebration of new family ties. Their love and acceptance proved that no obstacle was too big to overcome.

Life’s unexpected turns often guide us to the most meaningful places. Both families shared precious moments together – from learning to cook crawfish to celebrating holidays. These experiences helped them build a mixture of love, understanding and mutual respect.

Both families chose the path of grace and redemption instead of dwelling on the past. They built stronger bonds each day. Their story teaches us that family goes beyond blood relations and lies in our choice to love and accept each other without conditions.