Gloredia Odessa Tipps Phillips was born to the union of the late Odessa Lewis and

Christopher Columbus Tipps in Cushing (Rusk County), Texas, on October 27, 1934,

She passed away with her family at her side on February 5, 2025.

The third born of six children, Gloredia developed a love for learning from a very

early age. A bright pupil of Laneville Colored High School from Ist-12th grade,

earning Valedictorian of her graduating class, Gloredia's father would speak into

existence her calling as he would proudly say, "There goes my schoolteacher," as she

headed off to school each day. The Tipps family was a hard working family who

lived on a farm and picked cotton every year to earn extra income, which helped to

finance Gloredia's college education at Prairie View A & M College. She earned a

Bachelor's degree in the areas of Elementary and Secondary Education and Library

Sciences, and upon completion of her college education she met and married Joe

Louis Phillips. Shortly afterwards, she began a career in public education which

spanned 34 years. During her 58-year marriage to Joe Louis Phillips, they dedicated

their lives to raising their six children and to serving the community of Groesbeck.

Mrs. Phillips is fondly remembered by her students and many others in the

community for greeting them..or quieting them. with her famous peace sign

gesture. Mrs. Phillips loved teaching and daily inspired and encouraged her

students to put forth their best in all their endeavors. Her students showed their

gratitude and appreciation by nominating her five times to Who's Who Among

American Teachers. In 1995, she was awarded the Limestone County Texas State

Teacher's Association's (TSTA) Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Phillips was very involved and active in many school and community

organizations including serving with the D.A.R.E. support organization for B years,

Maffett Memorial Library Board from 1976-2007, Limestone County Retired

Teachers, Greater Limestone County Alzheimer's Support Group, Limestone County

Historical Museum, Limestone County Domestic Violence Advocaey Board, CA.U.SE

Incorporated, Board Member of the 19th of June Organization, Civic and Social Arts

Club, Limestone County Democratic Committee, and a loyal member of Groesbeck

Church of Christ for over 50 years.

In earlier years, Gloredia loved to travel, visiting several states in the U.S., and she

had the opportunity to visit the country of Ireland with Joe and her daughter,

Paula, after Paula had won the trip on a radio contest. Gloredia was also quite the

dancer, and she and Joe cut many a rug in their nearly six decades together, giving

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire a run for their MONEY.

An avid watcher of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, and a knower of seemingly all

things, from the number of counties in Texas, to the number and names, in order, of

the presidents who served in her lifetime, to quickly recalling the alphabet

backwards as easily as she could forwards, Gloredia was sharp. To know Gloredia

was to also know and admire her for being quite the orator, with the ability to recite

poems, preambles, or speeches of her own with unmatched eloquence and poise. Two

of her favorite quotes are by Edwin Markham - 1) "There is a desting which makes

us brothers; none goes his way alone. All that we send into the lives of others, comes

back into our own". 2) "He drew a circle that shut me out. Heretic, rebel, a thing to

flout. But love and I had the wit to win; we drew a circle and took him in!"

Gloredia is preceded in death by her parents, Columbus & Odessa Tipps; husband,

Joe Louis Phillips; daughter, Paula Merlyne Phillips; son, Haywood Gregory Phillips;

brothers, Cathell and Anza Tipps; and sister, Ruby Neal.

Those who remain to cherish her memories are her daughters, Damita (Michael)

Brassfield and Patrice (Herman) Houston; sons, Joe Christopher Phillips (Kasandra)

and Sharles Tipps Phillips (Rachel Garcia); grandchildren Micah, Michael II Desiree

Salazar), Kristen, Joe Il, and Kye Jordan; great-grandchild Misha; brother Asil

(Ellen) Tipps; sister Ozie Edwards; and generations of nieces, nephews, cousins,

honorary grandchildren and church family and friends.

We celebrate her beautiful life today. Gloredia was loved by many and has made an

indelible impact in many lives as a wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, teacher,

mentor, friend, and great-grandmother. Our lives have been blessed by knowing her.

WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU - AND LET THE FAMILY SAY -AND DONT YOU FORGET IT!   PEACE