Josephine Hazel Phillips

1929 - 2025

Josephine Hazel Phillips, affectionately known as Josie, was born in Worton, MD on March 9, 1929 to the late Ruth Walker-Chandler and the late Andrew Pennington Butler. She was married to Medford Phillips of Worton Point, Md.

Josie received her early education from a one-room school house in Butlertown, Md, and completed her education at Garnett School in Chestertown, Maryland.

Josie worked for the Williams Family at the Foxley Manor Motel, Vita Foods Company and after many years retired from The Campbell Soup Company.

She accepted Christ as her personal Savior at an early age at Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church, Butlertown, Maryland, and served under the leadership of many pastors. She delighted in providing excellent culinary service along with her cousins Marie Butler and Virginia Thompson for many years. Josie served on the Stewardess Board where she prepared Communion which is a sacred act of God. In addition, she served as an Usher, member, Women's Missionary Society, an early member of the Love Ye One Another Chorus. Under the leadership of Rev. Monique Upshur Davis, she was appointed one of the Spiritual Mothers of the church. She supported God's work through rendering her time, talent, treasures and proclamation of Jesus Christ.

Josie continued to enhance her relationship with God through reading the Bible daily, and Devotional Readings. Her favorite scripture was "Psalms 27" which was also her mother's favorite scripture. Her life was also inspired by "Proverbs 3:5", Trusting in the Lord. She shared spiritual experiences that uplifted and encouraged others. In addition, Josie loved good singing, especially the older hymns, however, more recently, one of her favorite songs was "Every Praise to our God" by Hazekiah Walker.

Josie loved plants and flowers, completing puzzle books, watching the Game Show Network and her favorite soap opera was "The Bold and the Beautiful".

She loved God, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grand-children. She was proud of them; they meant the world to her. She made God's love visible through her family, church family, friends and the ecumenical community.

She was proceeded in death by her husband, Medford Phillips, her daughter, Corliss Phillips-Robinson, mother, Ruth Walker-Chandler, her father, Andrew Pennington Butler, a sister, Wyonia Walker, loving grandparents, Rev. Albert and Cora Walker.

Josie was a wife, loving mother and leaves to cherish her memory 3 daughters, Cheryl Saunders (James) of Big Woods, MD, Darlene Phillips-Fisher, Baltimore, MD, Diane Phillips, Wilmington, DE, and one son, Donald Phillips, Chestertown, MD, 14 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, 15 great-great grandchildren and God-daughter Carol Phillips-Thomas.

She also leaves to cherish her memory, two loving sisters, Joan Walker-Hunter (Rev. Cordell E. Hunter, Sr. of Aberdeen, MD), and Barbara Chandler-Dozier of New Castle, Delaware, and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. She also leaves to cherish her memory special daughters, Ernestine Hynson Knotts, and Stephanie Lindsey, and a circle of special friends, Cynthia Oakley, Minervia (Lucy) Lively, Rosa Reed, cousin Jacqueline Whye Sisco, Shirley Butler Hopkins, Lauretta Freeman, Dorothy Wilson, Thomas & Rosa Gross and a host of family and friends.

A funeral service will be held Friday October 24, 2025, at 11 am at Mt. Olive AME Church, Worton, MD, where friends and family may visit 2 hours prior form 9 am until 11 am. Interment will be held immediately following at Mt. Olive AME Church Cemetery.