Obituary for Evelyn J. Fulton Phillips
On Monday, January 31, 2022 at 10:02 p.m., our Father in heaven called His beloved Evelyn Juanita Fulton Phillips home to glory after battling a recent illness with cancer. She was born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to John and Margaret Fulton on August 24, 1943. She received her education in the Pittsburgh Public Schools at Fort Pitt Elementary School, Peabody High School and The University of Pittsburgh. She accepted Christ at an early age and was raised as an avid choir member and active at St. James A.M.E. Church and on Lincoln and Meadow Streets. She was a leader within The Garfield community (community activism).
Juanita met John Phillips when she was just 14 years of age. The two were married on January 21, 2006 at St. James A.M.E. Church. Juanita loved to sing, to cook and she and John loved their Beauvais dogs and to entertain friends at their home.
As one of the first African American business owners in the community, she and John were owners of Isaly's Deli, The Tiger Tail Lounge and The Aiken Ave Dairy until moving to Florida in 1995. In Florida she worked as a Mortgage Closer for 5 years before returning to Pittsburgh.
Ms. Juan, also known as Aunt Juanita, and Auntie Honey was a member of the Three Musketeers with her work colleagues, Victoria and Mattie. She was a fashionista whose presence was made known the moment that she entered the room. She was full of life and “swag” as the kids would say.
She worked for the Pittsburgh Housing Authority for 16 years before retiring. She began working for Urban League part time in the Opportunity Broker Program’s Center for Economic Self-Reliance, where she had offices at CCAC Homewood and North Campuses. Through this program, she helped to remove barriers for others who might otherwise not have pursued their education.
Through this program, she helped provide others with food security, rent, book scholarships, and transportation. She’s had affiliation with Garfield Jubilee Association, A. Phillip Randolph, Builders Guild of Western PA, Pitt Swanson’s School of Engineering, where she led others to Pre/Apprenticeship opportunities.
She leaves to cherish her memory her husband John Phillips of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, her stepchildren Anthony Boyd, Jacqui Phillips, Crystal Clark (Roy), Jonelle Phillips, Keisha Phillips; her nephews Rodney Burton, Roger Burton (Cheryl), her nieces Legretta Maynard (Albert) of Macon, Georgia, Deborah Thornhill (Gregory) of Pittsburgh, Deadra Cottrell, Melissia Council (Karl), and Margaret Starkes and a host of relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her mother and father John and Margaret Fulton, her brothers John and Leroy and her sisters Margaret Fulton, MaryLou Starkes and Elrita Burton.
Juanita met John Phillips when she was just 14 years of age. The two were married on January 21, 2006 at St. James A.M.E. Church. Juanita loved to sing, to cook and she and John loved their Beauvais dogs and to entertain friends at their home.
As one of the first African American business owners in the community, she and John were owners of Isaly's Deli, The Tiger Tail Lounge and The Aiken Ave Dairy until moving to Florida in 1995. In Florida she worked as a Mortgage Closer for 5 years before returning to Pittsburgh.
Ms. Juan, also known as Aunt Juanita, and Auntie Honey was a member of the Three Musketeers with her work colleagues, Victoria and Mattie. She was a fashionista whose presence was made known the moment that she entered the room. She was full of life and “swag” as the kids would say.
She worked for the Pittsburgh Housing Authority for 16 years before retiring. She began working for Urban League part time in the Opportunity Broker Program’s Center for Economic Self-Reliance, where she had offices at CCAC Homewood and North Campuses. Through this program, she helped to remove barriers for others who might otherwise not have pursued their education.
Through this program, she helped provide others with food security, rent, book scholarships, and transportation. She’s had affiliation with Garfield Jubilee Association, A. Phillip Randolph, Builders Guild of Western PA, Pitt Swanson’s School of Engineering, where she led others to Pre/Apprenticeship opportunities.
She leaves to cherish her memory her husband John Phillips of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, her stepchildren Anthony Boyd, Jacqui Phillips, Crystal Clark (Roy), Jonelle Phillips, Keisha Phillips; her nephews Rodney Burton, Roger Burton (Cheryl), her nieces Legretta Maynard (Albert) of Macon, Georgia, Deborah Thornhill (Gregory) of Pittsburgh, Deadra Cottrell, Melissia Council (Karl), and Margaret Starkes and a host of relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her mother and father John and Margaret Fulton, her brothers John and Leroy and her sisters Margaret Fulton, MaryLou Starkes and Elrita Burton.