Elsie May Phillabaum

Elsie May Phillabaum, died July 18, at home in Waynesville, NC, aged 94 years. Elsie was born on Grays Island, Bahamas in 1928. At 26 years old she moved to South Florida, with her husband William and daughter Donna, where she had daughters Edith, Barbara, Linda, and Pamela, all five of whom she raised as a single parent. She worked at St. Mary’s Hospital, in West Palm Beach, alongside multiple other jobs, full and part-time, until she was able to finally retire from the last one in her 80s.

One of 9 children, she is predeceased by all of them, except her brother Patrick Wells, of Freeport, Bahamas. Her daughters Linda Saikley and Pamela Curtis also predeceased her, as did her granddaughter Christina Mason. She is survived by her remaining daughters, Donna Rhodes, and her husband Vernon Rhodes, Edith Hewitt, and her husband Cliff Hewitt, Barbara McKinney, and her husband Billy McKinney, as well as her son-in-law Frank Curtis. Her grandchildren Windy McKinney (and husband Dan Elliott), Emeral Childers, Jonathan Saikley (and wife Megan Saikley), Kimberly Hewitt, Tracey Childers, and William Rhodes also survive her, along with her great grandchildren Tori Stavitzski, Sarah Williams, Kaitlyn Stavitzski, Lilly Luce, Aliveah Saikley, and Madeline Elliott, and many great grandchildren. Also very close to her were her niece Michelle Phillabaum (and her son Roland), and her nephews Steven Phillabaum (wife Cindy, and sons Steven and Charles) and Charles Phillabaum.

She will be remembered for her bright red hair, her lilting Bahamian accent, and her easy smile. Her strength of character, generosity of spirit, and devotion to her family will continue to inspire those who loved her for the rest of their lives. While she spent the great majority of her life working hard to care for her family, in her later years she continued that care by continuous prayers, and the cards she sent for every birthday, holiday, or important event will be sorely missed. Because she died just shy of her 95th birthday, and because Elsie loved cake and ice cream everyone that knew and loved her should enjoy some ice cream cake in memory of her on her birthday, July 28th.

Memorial Services will be held at a future date at St. Claire's Catholic Church in North Palm Beach, Florida. Contact Garrett Funeral Home in Waynesville, NC for more information at (828) 456-8656.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers or other gifts, donations be made in Elsie’s name to Haywood Hospice and Palliative Care, with profound gratitude for the care she received in her last months.

Their address:

Haywood Hospice and Palliative Care

13 Haywood Office Park

Waynesville, NC 28785