Bertha Mae Phillips

Bertha Mae Phillips, daughter of the late Will Howard Heard and Hattie Mae Walker-Heard, was born on June 25, 1908, in Athens, Georgia. In the warm presence of her family, she departed this world on September 10, 2002. Bertha established her lifelong devotion to the Lord at the age of ten, when she was baptized. She moved with her family to Atlanta, Georgia, where she completed her education and received nursing training with the Red Cross. In Atlanta, she met and married her husband, Tilmus Phillips, on October 18, 1928. They began their life of service together and were ordained as members of the Deacon/Deaconess Board of the White Rock Baptist Church. The couple relocated to Baltimore in 1952. Soon thereafter, they participated in the founding of the Zion Hill Baptist Church, under the stewardship of Reverend Pearl Charleston. Following their move to the Hanlon Park Community, the family joined the Mount Ararat Baptist Church in 1956. She continued her missionary work until the time of her death, including the Deaconess Board, the Junior Missionary, the Senior Missionary, the Senior Choir, the Sunday school PTA, and the Mount Ararat Health Services. She tirelessly served her community as a member of the Ashburton Community Association and the Hanlon Park Community Association. Bertha served her community as Chairperson of the March of Dimes for twelve years and as a judge for the Board of Elections for over thirty years. Bertha spent her life providing love and guidance to children. She worked as a volunteer nurse and spent many years as a day care provider and a foster parent whether she was known as Momma, Mama Phillips, Big Mama, or Miss Bert, she always worked to bring out the best in those she met, and she NEVER gave up on anyone. She is survived by her daughters, Verna Eason, Shelia Williams and Dorothy Green; two sons-in-law, Bob Eason and Lloyd Green; four granddaughters, Kim Manning, Nicole Handy, Monica Eason and Constance Green; grandsons, Marcus Royster, Avril Handy and Phillip Green; great-granddaughters. Amanda Handy and Jazznia Royster; scores of nieces, nephews, cousins, and godchildren; many devoted friends, including Robert Morton and Suzie Austin; sisters-in-law, Doris Evans, Maggie Phillips, Inez Phillips and Doris McKnight; and the many members of her Mount Ararat family.

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Bertha Mae Phillips

June 25, 1908 - September 10, 2002