Pearl L Phillips

Pearl Louise (Roberts) Phillips, devoted wife, loving mother, proud grandmother and cherished friend departed this life on July 21, 2024 to spend eternity in the arms of her Lord and Savior. Born on March 8, 1936 in Boston, Massachusetts, Pearl was the daughter of the late Pearl Douglas and Simeon Arthur Roberts. She was raised by her paternal grandparents, Simeon Oscar Roberts and Leontyne Scott. As a child, she grew up in Boston and attended Boston Public Schools.

Shortly after high school, Pearl's life was forever changed when she attended a summer block party and met St. Clair A. Phillips. They both loved to dance, and that shared enjoyment drew them to one another. Later, St. Clair would joke that he "swooped Pearl off her feet" by taking her dancing on Friday nights. Following a brief courtship, Pearl and St. Clair were married in 1958 at St. Clair's home church, St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Cambridge, MA. And over their 49-year marriage, family and friends alike got to witness their smooth dance moves as they glided harmoniously and effortlessly across the floor, whether it was in a ballroom or at home in their living room.

St. Clair and Pearl were blessed with three children: St. Clair III, Stephen and Leslie. Becoming parents brought them immense joy. This was quite evident when, at retirement age, they wholeheartedly embraced a second go-round at parenthood. Along with raising their grandson Brandon from the age of 13 and watching him grow into a responsible and caring young man, St. Clair and Pearl formally adopted their grandson William (Will) St. Clair Phillips in 1999. They instilled in them both, like they had done with their sons and daughter, the importance of family, Christian values and education. Pearl nurtured Will's love for singing and the arts and watched proudly as he excelled at both. She accomplished all this while pouring the same amount of love and attention into her other grandchildren, Ameer and Maya, serving as their first child-care provider and undoubtedly the most influential.

Having prioritized her family first, Pearl waited until her children were grown to pursue her own educational goals. Even then, she did so by attending classes at night while working full-time. Through dedication and determination, she attained a B.A. in Early Childhood Education from UMass Boston and a M.Ed. from Lesley University. Pearl applied the skills and knowledge she gained to embark on a 30-year-plus career as an educator. She worked for ABCD Boston for approximately 20 years, starting as a teacher and then becoming a supervisor overseeing three site locations. She was also employed as a special needs teacher in the Boston Public Schools. Pearl's special gift was working with young children with special needs—nurturing, guiding, and helping them discover and develop their unique talents and abilities. She was unwavering in her commitment to helping her students reach their full potential, becoming one of their most fierce advocates.

Along with a shared love of dancing, Pearl and St. Clair also enjoyed annual vacations with family and friends to St. Clair's ancestral home, Christ Church Barbados. This love of travel stayed constant throughout Pearl's life. She looked forward to her trips to Virginia and thoroughly embraced cruising to Alaska and the Eastern and Western Caribbean with family. And of all her travels, hopping on the ferry to Martha's Vineyard always remained one of her favorite pastimes. As a child, she had spent every summer in Oaks Bluff, admiring the gingerbread houses, reading on the beach and watching the beautiful sunsets with her grandmother. 

When not travelling, Pearl would relax in her Eastham, Cape Cod home, birdwatching or lounging at her favorite spot, Nauset Beach, delighting in the peace and serenity of the water while enjoying a good book. An avid reader from an early age, the works of Edgar Allan Poe were particular favorites of hers. In retirement, Pearl also relished having time to indulge in some of her other passions: watching black-and-white film classics, James Bond movies (Sean Connery only), instructional cooking shows and writing. Well into her golden years, she continued to host an annual New Year's Day celebration for family, friends and neighbors filled with fun, food and laughter.

A devout follower of Christ, Pearl loved Jesus with all her heart. She was a former member of the Boston Church of Christ, St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church and St. Paul's A.M.E. Church of Cambridge. Pearl demonstrated her Christian goodwill by quietly serving others and donating to various causes that often included vulnerable populations. She committed to memory many scriptures, with her favorites being Psalm 91, Psalm 103 and Philippians 4.  It was those scriptures and others that helped to sustain and uplift Pearl throughout her life. That steadfast knowledge and unwavering belief provided her with peace and comfort as she journeyed home to be with her Lord.

Pearl was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 49 years, St. Clair Phillips, Jr., her sister Judy Burns and brother Ronald Wortham. She leaves to cherish her memories: sons St. Clair III (Mona) Phillips and Stephen (Rochelle) Phillips; daughter Leslie (Paul) Spencer; adopted son William St. Clair Phillips; grandsons Brandon Phillips, Ameer Phillips and Taron Coleman; granddaughter Maya Phillips; sister Alice (Jimmy) Burns; sister-in-law Lorna Phillips; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Pearl L Phillips, please visit our floral store.