Funeral services for the late Mrs. Phyllis Gilchrist will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 11:oo am at Rome Baptist Church, Denmark, South Carolina.  Interment services will follow immediately at Hope Memorial Park Cemetery, Barnwell, South Carolina.  Viewing for the public will be held on Friday from 12:00 noon - 8:00 pm at the funeral home.

LIFE REFLECTIONS

1946-2016

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:12

Sister Phyllis Jacquelyn Ford Gilchrist was born April 14, 1946 to the late Burnell Thomasina Ford Lockett in Lake View, South Carolina. Her grandparents the late Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Ford, played a great role in her life as a child. She was summoned by God's heavenly angels on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at the Regional Medical Center, Orangeburg, SC.

At an early age, she joined Union African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Lake View, South Carolina, where she served faithfully until she moved to Queens, New York. Her love for singing began at Union AME Church where she was a leader in the church choir. Sister Phyllis attended Columbus High School (Class of '64) in Lake View South Carolina prior to moving to New York and graduated from Jamaica High School, Queens, New York. After graduating from high school she began working for New York Telephone Company.   She was a very dedicated and intelligent employee and was promoted to Telephone Engineer in only a few years. During that time she reunited with her old friend from Lake View, the late Joseph C. Gilchrist. They were married and were blissfully happy together for forty five years.

In 1975, she and her husband relocated to Blackville, South Carolina. They immediately found a church home and joined Rome Baptist Church. Over the years at Rome Baptist Church she served in a number of positions. She was a past President of the Trustee Board, past President of the Secretary Pool, Member of the Deaconess Board, Missionary Society, Member of various choirs of Rome Baptist Church and the Blackville Community Choir.

Her position at New York Telephone Company was transferred to the Bell South Telephone Company in South Carolina. She attended numerous Bell South schools of technology and was promoted to the highest position in her field. Sister Gilchrist held supervisory positions in Bell South's satellite offices located in Orangeburg, Aiken, and Columbia.  She finally retired from Bell South after serving over 30 years with the phone company. After her retirement she became a substitute teacher for the Barnwell County Public Schools. She enjoyed working with the schools system and was a dedicated employee for many years.

Her favorite past times were spending time with her grandchildren, baking homemade cakes, talking to friends and family on the phone, and serving as a faithful volunteer in her church/community.

Phyllis leaves to cherish fond memories: two daughters, Tiffany Gilchrist Jackson, of the house and Cathy Nance, New Jersey; one son, Terrance Nance, New York; seven grandchildren Lonnie, Jonathan, Jeremiah, Javaris, Terrance, Jr., Shawn and Antwon; five sisters, Joyce (Idris) Rasheed of North Carolina, Eula Jean Paige of Maryland, Brenda Carmichael of South Carolina, Ardelia Tolbert of Ohio and Dorethy Roach of Michigan; Special Sister Barbara Rose Burton of South Carolina and Special Niece Angela (Ronald) Gilliam of Georgia; three Sisters-in-law Alice (Johnny ) Hickman of Virginia, Emma Coleman of New York and Brenda Gilchrist of North Carolina; one Brother- in –law Milford (Bonita) Gilchrist, Illinois; two Goddaughters Megan Freeman and Imiah Davis; Godson John E. Nickens; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.