Margaret Ellen Phillips

MARGARET ELLEN PHILLIPS, the third of four children of the late Charles Redmond and Courtney Tate “Tota” Phillips, entered this life on May 20, 1913. On May 15, 2011, Margaret rejoins her loving parents, her departed siblings, Carroll Sr., Marian and Helen P. Gwynn, late nieces, Irene Snead and Dr. Ethel P. Fitchett (Honorary Degree), and her late great-niece Jere Fitchett, to received her heavenly reward. Margaret attended public elementary school in Mt. Washington in the early 1920’s. She and the nineteen other students who graduated in 1926 named themselves “The First Graders”. Along with their teacher, the late Mrs. Louisa Elizabeth Gwynn Derricks, “The First Graders” kept in touch over the years to share fond memories of lessons in the one-room school on Kelly Avenue. When her family moved to Baltimore City, Margaret attended Douglass High School evening classes and majored in dressmaking. She mastered this skill so well, that she is remembered for tailoring many outfits for family members and friends. Margaret’s working years were diligently spent riding the #7 bus daily to the Homeland area, where she took pride in working for the Stuart family and in being an intricate part of raising the children, Jane Day, Freddie and Steven. Although she never married, Aunt Margaret was always available to help with raising her nieces and nephews. She was a caring and loving babysitter for others well into her retirement years. In the Christian arena, Margaret was a product of five generation of the Phillips family at Fulton Baptist Church. She was one of the recipients of a Certificate of Special Mention for this in the 1970’s. As a child, Margaret was brought to church by her mother, Courtney, under the pastorship of Rev. Samuel Ward. She grew up under the spiritual wisdom of the giants: Rev. B F. Jackson, Rev. Joseph Simon, and Rev. Douglas Wilson. Finding her niche for church work in 1937, Margaret took her post with the Ushers under Rev. B. F. Jackson, and she continued to usher for the next sixty-three years until her health started to fail in the 1990’s. She never let it be forgotten how the Deacons complimented her each time she made a turn to match up the aisle: “Go ‘head, Sister Phillips!”

Tributes

Margaret Ellen Phillips

May 20, 1913 - May 15, 2011