EVA RAY PHILLIPS

THE LIFE OF 

Eva Ray Phillips 

Eva Ray Paggett Phillips, Auntie, was born in Gainesville, Louisiana (Jackson Parish), to Henry Paggett and Georgia Reed Paggett. 

Auntie told the world that she was born on November 12, 1924 and that she was 98 on her birthday in 2022. But the family members (first line nieces and nephews) said differently. 

On our birthday zoom call with her, many of the family members verified that Auntie was in fact 100 years old! This diva was young at heart. For as long as the family can remember, she never admitted to her actual age. She would say, "a lady never tells her age." 

And Aunt Eva was a lady. A very classy lady. 

Eva's family "the Paggetts" were highly respected in Jackson Parish, Louisiana. They were looked upon by community members as 'Royalty.' 

Eva Ray was the youngest daughter of 19 children, yes...19 children. Nineteen children with the same mother and father. Her BIG brothers and her older sister spoiled her, and they protected her. 

But, as the baby girl in a family with this many children, Eva also learned survival skills at a very young age. Those skills, and all that love helped shape her into the confident and proud 'DIVA' that we all knew her to be. 

Aunt Eva loved the Lord all her life. When she arrived in San Diego, in 1953, she became a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend C. Johnson. And she stayed a faithful member under the leadership of her Pastor, Rev. J. Linzie Whitmill. She loved her Pastor. 

While at Mt. Zion, Eva held various positions over the years. She was a member of the Missionary choir and President of the Faith Circle where she had 17 members. 

She also served as head chef and staff leader for the church's Annual Father's Day Breakfast. Aunt Eva was a good and faithful servant at Mt. Zion until her health began to fail. 

When Eva arrived in San Diego, she became employed with the Navy Exchange as a laundry machine operator where she worked for 25 years until she retired on December 5, 1984. 

Eva Ray was raised in the friendship community with 8 of her siblings, Abner Jackson, Hope Paggett, Zelma Paggett, Velvet Paggett, Areveal Paggett, Glen Paggett, Woodrow Paggett, and Alvester Paggett, (10 did not survive childhood). 

Her highest level of education was completing high school. Her graduation was a remarkable achievement in those days and a tribute her parents. 

Eva, had a solid Christian foundation. Her family was devoted to teaching and studying the Word of God. Eva united and was baptized in the New Friendship Baptist Church at an early age. She did not just attend church. She participated in the various church activities and auxiliaries. 

Aunt Eva grew up to be a confident young woman. She was full of resilience, and she was full of wisdom. When Auntie entered a room, her presence demanded attention. She was known for her fancy hats and stylish attire. 

Whether you visited her in her home or met her out in public, this classy lady was always together. 

The classy, beautiful Eva Ray caught the eye of Colvin Phillips, and they married in Jonesboro, Louisiana on June 2, 1948. She and her husband relocated to San Diego, California in 1953. 

Aunt Eva was also concerned about her community. She was initiated into the Order of the Eastern Star, Ada B. Cleveland Chapter #71 on March 2, 1960. 

She served as Worthy Matron in 1971. After she served as Worthy Matron, and Past Matron, Eva Phillips took the position of Esther from 1972 to 2004. 

She was made a Lifetime Member of Ada B. Cleveland Chapter #71 in 2005. 

Her passion was the May Day breakfast. The Chapter voted unanimously, to change the name of the May Day Breakfast to "The Eva Ray Phillips May Day Breakfast" in 2000. 

Aunt Eva was the Paggett Family Matriarch... 

Last Family Reunion attended, 2019 San Diego, CA. 

She was very proud of this position, and she was very proud of her family's heritage. Her family gave her so much joy. 

She was not blessed with children of her own, but she enjoyed taking care of her siblings' children and their children. She treated them just as though they were hers. She was our "Auntie," but felt more like a grandmother figure. She was a generous woman with a big heart. All the children loved "Aunt" Eva and she loved them! 

Aunt Eva also loved to entertain. She was the life of the party! 

Family and friends were always welcome at Auntie's house. There was not a holiday that you wouldn't find Auntie in the kitchen preparing meals for her family. She was known for her many soul food dishes. We loved her signature desserts. Her heavenly lemon cake, her delicious pound cake and 'Sock it to Me' cake. And who could forget those amazing collards, mustards, and turnip greens, which she proudly grew in her back yard. 

We are so grateful to have some of her recipes to pass on to our children, just as she passed her recipes to us, and she taught us to cook them. 

Auntie was a great teacher and role model. She was a confidant and counselor to the women AND the men in our family. She would tell you what she thought about any subject presented whether you wanted to hear it or not. Auntie was also a very sweet and compassionate woman. She was full of pride, and she had a memory that was better than most of us. If you told her you were going to do something for her, she would never forget it - and she would never let you forget it either. Even from her sick bed. 

She departed this life on Sunday, February 19, 2023, at 1:59 p.m. All of her siblings preceded her in death. She leaves five generations of family members to mourn her (too many to name). They include 38 nieces and nephews, and a host of great nieces, great nephews, cousins, and friends who will continue to share the impact this lady had on their lives and the lives of others. 

Her California nieces, nephews and family members consider themselves blessed to have cared for her as she got older. Aunt Eva Ray Paggett Phillips, you will be greatly missed. You left a legacy of life lessons and fond memories. A legacy of good times and family gatherings, filled with lots of laughter and lots of love. That legacy will live on inside us forever. 

We are comforted by our memories of you.

We are also comforted by your favorite scripture Psalms 23, which is interpreted to mean: God will meet our needs. He will give us peace. - He will restore us. He will lead us down a path of righteousness and not destruction. 

Rest easy Auntie, until we meet again on the other side. 

Lord. please welcome this angel with the loud sound of the trumpets! 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of EVA RAY PHILLIPS, please visit our floral store.