Deloris J. Phillips
Sept. 30, 1998
Deloris J. Phillips, emerita in social work, died Sept. 28
in Kalamazoo. She was 63.
Phillips joined the WMU faculty in 1972 and taught both graduate
and undergraduate courses and served as an adviser in the School
of Social Work's undergraduate program. She was instrumental
in organizing the Whitney M. Young Jr. Scholars Program, an annual
event designed to recognize outstanding social work students
and bring in national speakers. She was active in a number of
conferences on race relations and served as a discussion leader
in the successful 1988 mock trial "Still a Dream...Exploring
Race Relations in Greater Kalamazoo." She retired from WMU
as an associate professor in December 1996.
In 1997, the Deloris Jordan Phillips Scholarship in Social
Work was established by former WMU President Diether H. Haenicke
to honor Phillips' 24 years of service to the University and
her community involvement.
In the community, Phillips was a recognized leader, volunteering
with many organizations including the YWCA of Kalamazoo, the
Metropolitan Kalamazoo Branch of the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People, the Boy Scouts, St. Barnabas
Episcopal Church, Community AIDS Resource and Education Services,
Douglas Community Association, the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo
and the Kalamazoo Civic Players. She was also a member of Alpha
Kappa Alpha sorority. Her volunteer service was recognized in
1998 when she received the STAR Awards' Irving S. Gilmore Lifetime
Achievement Award and when she received the YWCA's Genevieve
U. Gilmore Volunteer Leadership Award in 1997.
Funeral services were held Oct. 3 at St. Barnabus Episcopal
Church, Portage, Mich. A special tribute to Phillips was presented
by Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority members.
Memorials may be made to the Deloris Jordan Phillips Scholarship
in Social Work through the WMU Foundation.
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