Obituary
Betty Mae Mack-Phillips, 71
The Mack-Jones-Phillips family mourn the loss of their loved one, Betty Mae Mack- Phillips who passed away peacefully at the age of 71 on June 21 after a prolonged illness.
She was born on July 1, 1948 in Huntsville Texas to the late Obie Mack and Elsie Mae Hightower. She moved to Oakland in 1959 at the age of 10 years. After graduating from McClymonds High School Betty attended Laney Junior College and then Merritt Community College where she completed her LVN degree. Betty worked at Oakland Kaiser before switching to a home care agency.
She also was a foster mother to numerous babies with special needs while taking care of her aunt who had Alzheimer Disease. While working for the agency she was chosen by one of the clients to be his personal caretaker, a relationship that lasted more than twenty years and he, his wife and Betty developed a deep enduring friendship. The couple thought of Betty as their very own “angel”. Betty remained as a companion to his wife after his death until she was unable to do so due to health issues.
Betty married Freeman Phillips in 1991 and they had a loving relationship until his death in 2015. Her brothers Willie Mack, TX and Billie Lee Jones, TX pre-deceased her. She is survived by her siblings Daisy Jones,Conroe, TX, Azzie Jones-Perryman, Conroe, TX, Denise Jones,Woodlands, TX (twin),Debra JonesHouston, TX (twin),Donnie Jones, Cleveland, TX, Clarence Mack, Sr, Las Vegas, NV, Otis Mack, Palm Springs, CA, Nephew Clarence Sonny Mack, Jr, Oakland, CA, Niece Natina Mack, Stockton, CA, and Aunt Mildred Harris, Houston, TX and a host of great nieces/nephews and cousins.
Betty considered cousins Ann Williams, Coalinga, CA and Levenia Kimble, Apple Valley, CA and friend Michi Takahashi, Richmond, CA to be her “sisters”.
One of Betty’s talents was baking – she made the most delicious cakes and pies for friends and family.
Betty had a strong personality but she laughed easily. She was generous and cared deeply about her friends and family and family who could always count on her for support. She will be sorely missed by those she leaves behind.
She was interred at Mt. View Cemetery in Oakland, next to her beloved husband, Freeman Phillips.
