Betty Lou Metcalf Phillips

August 20, 1928 – February 20, 2014

Our Mom, Betty Lou Phillips (nee Metcalf) was born on August 20th, 1928, to Robert Metcalf, Sr. and Helena Metcalf (nee Heittmiller) in Baltimore, Maryland. She lived on the 1800 Block of Pratt Street between Monroe Street and Fulton Avenue.

Mom was one of seven children; Margaret, Robert, Evelyn, and Shirley, who have since passed, and is survived by Norman and Marvin.

She attended 48 Elementary School on Holland Street. The Metcalf family moved to 1925 Frederick Avenue and she attended Gwynns Falls Junior High School on Hilton Street through the 8th grade. The Metcalf family worked hard in the fruit/vegetable stand business along the cobblestone streets of Baltimore, but still struggled financially. Due to hardships in the family, Mom left school to go to work.

She began work at Haussner’s of Baltimore at the tender age of 15. She had many stories to tell, but one that puts at smile on our faces, is of Mrs. Haussner having her wipe down the marble statues, some of which were in various stages of undress. During that time, many military men would visit Haussner’s, and as a young lady she would be very embarrassed having the dreaded chore of wiping the statues.

Even so, Mom spoke very highly of Mr. and Mrs. Haussner and continued employment with them through the age of 19 where she left to begin work at Oliver Press, Inc. on Frederick Avenue. This is where she met her beloved William “Ken” Phillips, our Dad.

Mom and Dad married on July 17th, 1951. For the first year of their marriage, they lived with Dad’s brother and sister-in-law, Rudy and Lillian, while the house they shared for 60 years was being built at 5514 Montgomery Road. There are four of us; Neil, Wayne, Gary, and Teri. She was a wonderful Mom to us and Wife to our Dad. She stayed home with us while Dad continued to work at Oliver Press. She ran a tight ship. Mom was very much a house “cleaner”. Chores would come first then playtime after that. Our closets were organized to a fault, with all of the hangers the same way, jackets zipped, shirts buttoned, and toys put away after we were finished with them. As much as we didn’t like it at the time, we are very grateful for those traits/responsibilities we learned from her.

Since Dad also had his own band, the “Kinsmen”, Mom often accompanied him on his “gigs”. Those were fun times for my parents, they both danced beautifully together; so elegant. Mom was also a great dancer as well on her own and was quite famous for her rendition of “The Alley Cat”. Dad would call her out on the dance floor and people would gather and clap. Whenever we were in attendance over the years, we’d just blush and hide our faces, but secretly we were very proud of her.

Once we were grown and had children of our own; Dawn, Stacey, Becky, the late Jeremy, Billy, and Stephanie, she continued to pour her love into her grandchildren, and years later, her great-grandchildren; Emily, Cody, Austin, and Trace. She was known as Mom-Mom to all of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

As time moved on, Mom and Dad continued to have their “date night” every Thursday at “the Club” where Mom would socialize with the ladies and Dad would shoot pool. This continued weekly through early 2011, when their health began fading.

Mom lost her beloved Kenny, and we lost our Dad/Pop-Pop on September 9th, 2011. They had just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary July 17th, 2011. The loss was very difficult for Mom and she mourned her Kenny. As her mind began fading more and more with her Dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, she never lost sight of wanting to be with Kenny. She often would tell us that she prays every night that Dad would come down and take her to heaven with him. We would often try to explain that it’s up to God when her time is up, but towards the end, we would just listen.

She was a very strong lady, stronger then she would ever admit to, but unfortunately, we lost our Mom, Betty Lou Phillips, on February 20th, 2014. She battled hard for almost two weeks prior, but her time had finally come.

With heavy hearts as we mourn her passing, it brings us great peace and comfort knowing Mom and Dad are finally united forever in His glorious Kingdom.

We will always cherish loving memories of our Mom in our hearts forever.