Phyllis L Rawlins

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Phyllis Rawlins of Cambridge, MA passed peacefully on September 16, 2021. Born in Hampton,
St. Philip, Barbados, West Indies, Phyllis attended Spencer Junior School and St. Martin’s Senior
School. Upon graduating from high school, Phyllis took several nursing classes at Erdiston
College and worked as a Nursing Assistant at General Hospital (now Queen Elizabeth Hospital).
In 1968, she immigrated to the United States, working initially for a family in Milton, MA.
Desiring more than working as a Housekeeper, Phyllis enrolled in Opportunities
Industrialization Center (OIC) in 1970 and successfully completed the Data Entry job training
program. In 1970 she settled in Cambridge, MA and joined Harvard University as a Data Entry
Clerk where she worked until her retirement.

In Barbados, Phyllis was raised in the Anglican Church. When she immigrated to the U.S, she
wanted to find a place of worship that resembled her Anglican roots. She found St.
Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Cambridge and was an active member from 1968 until she
became ill. At St. Bart’s, she sang in choir, served on the Vestry and enjoyed being a lay reader.
Her love for singing extended beyond the St. Bart’s choir; she also sang with the Millennium
Gospel Choir, the Boston Pops Gospel Choir and the Cambridge Community Chorus. Phyllis was
an active member of Barbados Mutual Society, a news buff, a doting grandmother, and was a
committed City of Cambridge Election Worker, proudly working the polls for over 10 years.

She is preceded in death by her mother Gwendoline Rawlins and one sister Nola Agard.

Phyllis leaves to cherish her memory her daughter Ingrid Broadnax (Jay, son-in-law);
granddaughter Dara Broadnax; two sisters Junia Whitehall and Kathleen King; one brother
Oneal Rawlins (Coral, sister-in-law); one uncle DeLisle Weekes and one aunt Eudeane Clarke,
both of Barbados; companion Monica Prescod; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins,
extended family, caregivers and friends.

Funeral arrangements will be held at A.J. Spears Funeral Home, 124 Western Avenue,
Cambridge, MA on Monday, September 27, 2021. Viewing at 10:00AM; Service at 11:00AM. To
join via Zoom: Meeting ID 525 528 9783; Password 670295 The Internment immediately
follows the service at Cambridge Cemetery.

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