Phyllis Anne James

On Tuesday, July 7, 2015, our Heavenly Father called to rest one of His beloved children, Phyllis Anne James. She was the daughter of the late Johnie Clarence and Carrie Bell Hightower. Phyllis was born on October 26, 1 943 in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. She accepted Christ as her Saviour at an early age and was baptized at the Saints Memorial Baptist Church in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. She was educated in the Lower Merion School District and was a 1 961 graduate of Lower Merion High School.

Phyllis was retired at the time of her death after having worked 30 years at the Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) where she was a customer service representative, clerk, and crew dispatcher. She was an active member of the First African Baptist Church of Darby Township. She sang on the Sanctuary Choir and was a member of the BW Watkins Scholarship Ministry. Also, she was an avid reader, loved shopping and loved cooking us Sunday dinner which included our favorite dish, macaroni and cheese.

Our mother was a proud Black woman and a strong Black woman before these phrases became a cliche. She was old school; she gave us "tough love" when necessary so we would not be led astray. And we could never repay her, because as children we were just learning our way. We're all grown up now and what's inside her is inside all of us. Thus, we are very proud to say that Phyllis Anne James showed us the right way. Mom, we love you more than words can describe and although we can't see you or touch you, we know you did not die.

Left to cherish her memory are her three sons, Gregory James, Dezmond James and Perry James; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; her two brothers, Johnie Thomas and Johnie C. Hightower Jr.; her sister, Rosella Lynn Thomas; her close friends Dalphine Mundy, Daphne Clarke, Cheryl Gibbs, Kristine Hightower, Marie Bradford, Jessie Smaw, and a host of in­laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and well-wishers who loved her dearly.