I had the privilege of spending three unforgettable hours with Blinn in April. Blinn was completely present, calm, courageous, and beyond intelligent--actually wise. A careful listener and weaver of stories, Blinn laughed easily and smiled with her eyes. Blinn accepted with grace all that the Great Spirit put before her.
Blinn, so loving and beloved.

I only knew Blinn the last few years.  Each month I take fleece to Hickory Valley Retirement Center and some of the ladies there turn the fleece into blankets that are donated to children at the Children's Hospital.  Blinn faithfully sewed a small label which read "Made with love at Hickory Valley Retirement Center" into each finished blanket.  She hardly ever missed a month.  She never complained and she often expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to be of service.  She was a great lady.  I will miss her.

I will miss Blinn, my only cousin on the Posey side of the family, the only one besides my brother and sisters who shared our wonderful grandmother, Adella Vashti Jarvis Posey. I will miss the phone conversations with Blinn and just knowing that she was there. I have memories of long and interesting talks about family, ideas, and the world. The most memorable phone call was when Blinn called in the middle of the night to tell us about the tsunami from Japan's earthquake headed for the San Francisco Bay, where she knew my husband Chuck and I were living on a boat. She persuaded us to pack a few essentials and leave the boat before morning. Although boats at our harbor turned out to be OK, some boats elsewhere in the area were smashed that morning.

I also remember cute stories about Blinn from when she was little, playing with Jeanie (my sister who was two years younger than Blinn) and being maternal in very cute ways, even when she couldn't pronounce all the words. Jeanie died in 2008. She had been in touch with Blinn not long before. My mom, Blinn's Aunt Pearl, loved Blinn and was in touch with her throughout the years, despite not living in TN since 1946 (the year that I and my brother Malcolm were born and we moved to Illinois; we then moved 9 years later to Iowa, then to Ithaca, NY). 

Our family (with my siblings who were Blinn's cousinsJeanie, Malcolm, and Wanda Blynn, 2 years older than Malcolm and I, who was named after Blinn but was given her own unique spelling of it) went to TN every year for our summer vacation. I have good memories of seeing Blinn and her brother Calvin Rodrick, as well as her mom and dad, every summer. I envision Mom and Jeanie, along with Uncle Earle (Mom's brother and Blinn's dad) and Aunt Violet (Blinn's mom) welcoming Blinn with open arms into the higher dimension where I believe they all are.

Blinn told me that she enjoyed the place where she lived in her last yearsand especially the activities that she participated in and the people she was friends with through them. I also know how much she loved, appreciated, and was proud of her children and grandchildren. I am glad that I was able to visit TN at least once in my adult life, and to visit Blinn then, as well as see her son Tom with my sisters Jeanie and Wanda, Wanda's daughter Ayesha, and my children Annie Posey Millar and Rowan Campbell Millar. I just wish I could have seen her more often. I am still hoping to sometime have the opportunity to see Tom, John, and Lisa and their families again. I am sending love, good wishes, and gratitude to all of them and to all of Blinn's friends for their part in Blinn's life. You will all be in my prayers as we all adjust to her not being on the earth with us still.
--Marilala (Laila) Campbell Millar

   I could write a long essay about Blinn and what she meant to me and our family. Earlier this summer I was very proud to introduce her to my wife Colette. Blinn exemplified the qualities that so many aspire to but few achieve, the kindness and humor,intellect and scholarship, ethics and attention to others, and faith, generosity of spirit. I have always felt that these are what our family is about.
   My memories of her go back to first meeting her when Marilala (my twin sister) and I were toddlers, then getting to know her better in the early 1950s. She and my eldest sister, Jeanie Grace, were very close, and both played the violin. Her father, my uncle Earl Posey, was a    I could write a long essay about Blinn and what she meant to me and our family. Earlier this summer I was very proud to introduce her to my wife Colette. Blinn exemplified the qualities that so many aspire to but few achieve, the kindness and humor,intellect and scholarship, ethics and attention to others, and faith, generosity of spirit. I have always felt that these are what our family is about.
   My memories of her go back to first meeting her when Marilala (my twin sister) and I were toddlers, then getting to know her better in the early 1950s. She and my eldest sister, Jeanie Grace, were very close, and both played the violin. Her father, my uncle Earl Posey, was a wonderful classical guitarist, and music ran in the family, as well as an intense thirst for learning. Later, I remember her delight when she announced to us that she was awaiting the birth of her son, Tom, when we were visiting the Posey home at 1510 Roanoke. We were also very fond of her brother, Clavin Roderick.
   My mother always regarded Blinn as a fourth daughter, and I was honored that she kept a large portrait of my mother as a 9-year-old on her wall. It showed the kind of connectedness she felt for us. She always stayed in touch, until the very end. I will never forget her courage in 1979 when she was the victim of a serious assault. She stayed in touch with us, and we stayed in touch with her. She often gave comfort to us in times of distress.
   Blinn had an amazing sense of history, both in the broadest sense, and of our family, something which was very helpful to us.
   Finally, I enjoyed the sound of her voice and the sweetness of her expression, and simply being in her presence, whether in person or by telephone. There was something reassuring about her that gave those of us who knew her a sense of renewed strength.
   I am thankful for her children and that we have such a profound expression of her in them. They are a blessing and comfort to all of us who knew and loved her.
   We find comfort in her memory.wonderful classical guitarist, and music ran in the family, as well as an intense thirst for learning. Later, I remember her delight when she announced to us that she was awaiting the birth of her son, Tom, while we were visiting the Posey home at 1510 Roanoke. We were also very fond of her brother, Clavin Roderick.
   My mother always regarded Blinn as a fourth daughter, and I was honored that she kept a large portrait of my mother as a 9-year-old on her wall. It showed the kind of connectedness she felt for us. She always stayed in touch, until the very end. I will never forget her courage in 1979 when she was the victim of a serious assault. She stayed in touch with us, and we stayed in touch with her. She often gave comfort to us in times of distress.
   Blinn had an amazing sense of history, both in the broadest sense, and of our family, something which was very helpful to us.
   Finally, I enjoyed the sound of her voice and the sweetness of her expression, and simply being in her presence, whether in person or by telephone. There was something reassuring about her that gave those of us who knew her a sense of renewed strength.
   I am thankful for her children and that we have such a profound expression of her in them. They are a blessing and comfort to all of us who knew and loved her.
   We find comfort in her memory.

We were so sorry to hear of her death. We hope the scriptures in John 11:34-44 will bring you comfort, peace and hope.

OBITUARY

Blinn Evelyn Phillips

September 27, 1937 – September 11, 2016

Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist-North Chapel and Hamilton Memorial Gardens

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