Gloredia Odessa Tipps Phillips
Gloredia Odessa Tipps Phillips was born to the union of the late Odessa Lewis and Christopher Columbus Tipps in Cushing (Rusk County), Texas, on Oct. 27, 1934. She passed away with her family at her side on Feb. 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 1st-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 13 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 Advocacy Board, C.A.U.S.E 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 destiny 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 M. 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 Phillips (Rachel Garcia); grandchildren Micah, Michael II (Desiree Salazar), Kristen, Joe II, and Kye Jordan; great-grandchild Misha; brother Azil (Ellen) Tipps; sister Ozie Edwards; and generations of nieces, nephews, cousins, and church family and friends.
The Phillips Family is humbled and grateful for the outpouring of love shown for Mrs. Phillips. To honor her servant heart and philanthropic spirit, memorial donations can be made to your favorite charities, or any of the following near and dear to her: American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Groesbeck ISD Scholarship Fund, Groesbeck Church of Christ, Greater Limestone County Alzheimer’s Support Group, Limestone Medical Center, and Maffett Memorial Library.
Visitation and services for Mrs. Phillips will be held at the Groesbeck Church of Christ. The visitation will be held on Friday, Feb. 14 from 5 to 7 p.m., and the funeral service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 11 a.m.