Missionary Blanche "Essie Dee" (Newman) Phillips

Missionary Blanche “Essie D” Phillips was a child of God who lived for 98 years.  On Monday, December 8, 2025, in Wimauma, Florida, she transitioned from this earth to the heavenly realm, joining her husband of 71 years, Clayton Phillips, who passed on Sunday, October 19, 2025.

Blanche was born on Wednesday, October 12,1927 to Carrie Newman in Caryville, Florida. She grew up in an extended family that included her siblings, Ozell Newman, Evangelist Ernestine N. Works, Cleveland, and Clensy Roberts, Jr. (all deceased). As her life was anchored in Caryville, she attended local schools in Washington County and earned a GED.

On Saturday, September 11, 1954, she married Clayton Phillips and raised four daughters, Bettye Davis, Evelyn Newman Phillips, Brenda Joyce “BJ” (Celestin) Biandudi, and Jo Ann Anderson (deceased). Their offspring would produce eight grandchildren: Paul Davis (Jennie); Regina Davis; Kinie Biandudi; T J Biandudi; Jeremy (Odessa) Biandudi; Clayton Phillip (Charity) Anderson; Andrea Larissa Anderson; Warren Edwin (deceased) (Janelle) Anderson. She also leaves a legacy of (13) great-grandchildren and (2) great-great-grandchildren.

In 1958, during a revival, she and her husband accepted Jesus Christ in their lives and became two of the original members of Spirit Filled COGIC.  She was the last surviving member of that pioneering group. During the early days of the church, she and her family had to walk to church, sometimes three times in a week. After the family bought cars, she drove others to church. Missionary Phillips remained faithful and served in various roles including Sunday School teacher. For over 25 years, she enjoyed preparing Sunday dinners for her former Pastor, Superintendent Gene Sylvester Banks and his family, of Pensacola, Florida.

Missionary Phillips dedicated her life to hard work and service. Over the years, she held a variety of jobs including housekeeper, sewing factory worker, restaurant employee, nursing home caregiver, and election poll worker. She also achieved professional success as a licensed real estate agent and life insurance agent.

Her commitment to community service was equally remarkable. She volunteered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Salvation Army, and the West Florida Regional Planning Council. In addition, she gave her time to the Council on Aging in Holmes and Washington Counties, where she later founded the Caryville Chapter of the Council on Aging — an organization that continues to thrive today as a testament to her vision and leadership.

Her hobbies included oil painting, crocheting, and jewelry making and fishing.

"Though we grieve her passing, we do not grieve as those who have no hope, for our hope is in nothing less than Jesus Christ".

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