WMU News

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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