Maeceola Kilpatrick

Maeceola Phillips Kilpatrick was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 30, 1926. She was the only child of two teenage parents.  Therefore, it was decided upon that Maeceola would be adopted at two months old by a widowed Baptist Evangelist, Joanna Phillips, who loved her very much.

Maeceola often said that “She knew she was loved, because she could see the love in her adopted mother’s eyes.”  Maeceola accepted Christ at the age of nine and was baptized by the late Pastor Ambrose Hubbs of Second Baptist Church in New Orleans, where she also received her formal education.

She was married to the late Eddie Kilpatrick II, for thirty-nine years.  Two children were born from this union, DeLois Alison Kilpatrick (Kamili Nilata) and son, Eddie Michael Kilpatrick III. The family moved to San Diego, California from New Orleans in 1962.

Maeceola united with Calvary Baptist Church in 1963 under the leadership of the late Dr. S.M. Lockridge. She served in various ministries, including Chairperson of the Grief Ministry, the Women’s Missionary Union and also served as a Deaconess for nearly fifty years. 

Maeceola continued her education by attending San Diego State University earning a Bachelor’s of Social Science Degree in 1983. Her first professional job after graduation, was at San Diego Adult Educational Cultural Complex. Afterwards, she volunteered at the Neighborhood House Center, San Diego under the Senior Citizen Center Director, Rosemary White-Pope. Later, Maeceola often drove several members to participate in program activities at the George Stevens Senior Center. She later volunteered as a counselor with Alcoholics Anonymous. She was also a long-time member of the Jackie Robinson YMCA. Maeceola was blessed to travel internationally with the Y’s Men for many years to such countries as Sweden, China, Russia, Bankock, Denmark and Egypt interacting with local international organizations while exchanging and learning their cultures.

She was affiliated with the Board of Directors AARP and sent written positive communication to the bereaved and the “sick and shut-in.”

She leaves to cherish her loving memory: two children, DeLois Alison Kilpatrick (Kamili Nilata) and son, Eddie Michael Kilpatrick III; grandson, Ian Michael Kilpatrick; great grandson, Raziel Michael Kilpatrick and a host of family members and special friends in New Orleans as well as friends in San Diego.