Lillian Phillips

Lillian Thomas Phillips was born in Birmingham, Alabama on April 24, 1931, the fourth of seven children born to Arthur and Pearl Thomas. If asked to describe herself, she might say that she was a nurse, a mother, a wife, a sister, a marathon runner, a daughter, an auntie, a good friend, a world traveler and a business woman, but she would definitely say that first and foremost she was a God-fearing, praying woman who accepted Christ as her savior and gave God all the glory.

While she was born in the South, Lillian was definitely a child of New York City. Her parents along with an Uncle, Aunt and their seven childrennd other family members left Birmingham seeking better opportunities aand to escape the hardships of living under Jim Crow. Once they arrived in New York City, Lillian hit her stride. She embraced the sights and sounds of Harlem in the 40s and 50s - enjoying going to dances with her siblings and cousins.

After graduating from Morris High School in the Bronx, she trained as a Registered Nurse at The Maternity and Charity Hospital Training School on Roosevelt Island. Over the course of her career, Lillian worked at many hospitals in New York City. Her work included maternal and psychiatric care, advocacy for patients with AIDS, nursing administration and finally becoming owner of Inner City Rehabilitation, a company that helped injured persons return to full functionality. In 1974, Lillian earned a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from City College of New York (CCNY) where she went on to become an active member of the Alumni Association. While attending high school, Lillian caught the eye of a young man whose initial courtship consisted largely of making funny faces at her through the classroom windows. Lillian and Charles eloped in 1953 and went on to raise three daughters together - Erica, Myrna and Lauren. Together, they supported one another in various business enterprises including the Carvel ice-cream store they opened in 1968. Their marriage was filled with ups and downs but for more than 60 years they found laughter, shared purpose and a commitment to social justice. They marched, studied, read and actively supported the leaders they admired. In 2007, Lillian was even arrested while protesting with Reverend Sharpton. Lillian was a born leader. She didn’t just join the PTA, she became a chairperson. When Lauren started daycare, she became Chair of the Board of Open Door and remained an active board member for close to 50 years. Her will to stay in the vanguard included learning to swim in her forties - a sport she continued to love for the rest of her life. She joined the Harlem Honeys & Bears synchronized swim team and proudly wore the team’s red jacket to cheer on her friends even when she no longer participated. In her spiritual practice, Lillian showed the same dedication and leadership. She was baptized in Birmingham when she was 13, but said that it was as a young adult in New York City that she truly accepted Christ as her savior. Over the years, she was a member and regular visitor at several churches including St. Augustine’s Presbyterian early in her marriage, and West End Presbyterian where she took Lauren and the children of several neighbors. But when she found Christian Cultural Center (CCC), she found the church that would be her spiritual home for the rest of her life. CCC was most dear to her heart and was the place where she grew in her faith practice. Lillian was dedicated to CCC and encouraged family members and friends to attend services there. As was her wont, Lillian was one of the founding members of CCC’s Golden Saints. Even as she began to experience loss of memory and confusion she was determined to continue to play her role in the annual play presented by the Golden Saints. As the pandemic raged, Lillian continually tried to visit CCC. Her love of her church was so great that she couldn’t understand and refused to believe that services were not taking place. Her family and caretakers frequently rode to Brooklyn with her to show her that services were not going on without her. Lillian’s life was full of friends and family. In addition to her large immediate family, she was quick to tell you that she grew up not just with her siblings, but right along with the seven children of her Uncle Bud and Aunt Sadie. As she and Charles built their life together, she easily joined in the large Phillips clan as well. One of the great joys of Lillian’s life was becoming a grandmother. She really loved that little Lana mispronounced ‘Grandma’ as Ahma and adopted the name which also means nurse. While so many have gone on before her, Lillian is still sister, aunt and friend to many. Even in the last days of her life, she made new friends at the Riverside Rehabilitation. Her strength, fortitude and spirit were a source of admiration for the staff at Mt. Sinai Morningside where she was treated during the final days of her life. Lillian’s beloved and ever-mischievous husband, Charles, preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughters, Erica, Myrna (Ray) and Lauren (Philip) and granddaughters Jalisa, TeeTee, Lana and Lenzi as well as her sister Mae, cousin Lucille and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and her faith family at CCC. She will be missed but we are easy in the knowledge that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”