Grace A. Phillips "Sissie" Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Grace Ann Phillips affectionately known as “Sissy “ was born to Gloria F Pinder and Victor A Pinder Sr. on December 23rd, 1947 in Bridgeport Connecticut and quietly left this earth on February 13, 2019. Grace grew up in Long Island, New York until the family moved to Chester Pennsylvania. She attended and graduated from Chester High School. Later she met and married the late Eugene E. Phillips & from this union a daughter was born: Eugenia M Phillips. Grace was a very multitalented and strong-willed person. She was a member of the historic Chester Civil Rights boycott of Woolworth’s Department Store, which helped desegregation in the city of Chester. She loved singing, sewing, and most of all providing for her family. As a young girl, she started singing in the church choir, and then she grew up to be in Chester’s own “Sygns of Tymes.” During her allustrious carear her longtime friend Leonidas Bean managed her and groomed her into a singing powerhouse. Sissy was a role model and the first entrepreneur of the family. She ventured out and gave her talent of singing to the world. She set a standard for her family and friends letting them know that they could do anything they put their mind and heart into. Grace along with the Sygns of Tymes had the pleasure of working with various artists from different genera’s of music such as Ray Charles, Evelyn Champagne King, Patti Labelle, Teddy Pendergrass, BB King, and her late beloved cousin Miss Brandi Wells to name a few. Her career was full of opportunities and many other groups that are too many to name. Sissy was also a talented seamstress; who could sew anything when given the opportunity. She enjoyed sewing so much that she created many of the attire for her singing groups. Although she loved singing, Grace made a choice to limit her entertainment to local venues so that she could raise her daughter. In her early years, her first job was as an Administrator at Greater Chester Moment. She worked for GCM for approximately ten years. She went on to become a Medical Administrator at Fair Acres where she worked for 32 years retiring in December of 2012. Caring for elderly patients and training the new employees gave her tremendous joy. After her retirement, she made numerous visit to her previous clients every summer. In her retirement Sissy usually spent her days shopping at thrift shops, cooking, cruising around in Ms. Daisy (that’s what she named her Lincoln) and entertaining her friends and family. Sissy had a heart of GOLD! Taking care of people made her a pillar of the Eastside community. Sissy especially loved her large family of brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins, grandkids and friends. She accepted everyone as a member of the family; it was a major part of her life. Sissy was the eldest of all her siblings and was predeceased by her parents; Gloria F Pinder and Victor A Pinder Sr., Sisters: Charlotte J Banks; Ida M Pinder; and Brother; Lamont C Pinder. She is survived by Daughter; Eugenia M Phillips, Three Grand Daughters Mariah, Ky’lelah, and Tracie Phillips; two Great-grandsons: Tahj Lewis and Devon Graves Jr. Sisters: Paula L Simmons, Theresa M Williams (Dennis Sr.) and Vanessa C Pinder; Brothers: Victor A Pinder Jr (Maggie ) Rodney A Pinder ( Simona) Extended Brothers: Harry Jackson, Timothy Marshall, James Wilson, and Robert Owens and an enormous list of family and friends. Grace lived her life to the fullest and had no regrets. Her angelic beauty matched her graceful love of family and community. She was the “Matriarch” of the PINDER family, and she will always be in our hearts. She loved every single one of us in her own way; her ultimate motherly instinct placed her amongst the living angels. To know “Sissy” was to love her! We remember her as the Phenomenal woman she was! The crowd pleaser and the hostess with the mostest. This is a joyful home going and celebration of her Life! Memorial Service on Friday, February 22, 2019 at 11:00 AM St. Luke CC Church, 318 Tilghman Street, Chester, PA 19013

Grace A. Phillips "Sissie"

December 23, 1947 - February 13, 2019