Phyllis Commons

The Homegoing Celebration of Phyllis CommonsPhyllis Commons was born in St. Louis, Missouri on February 21, 1942, and was the first of 3 children raised by Mary Commons West and Wallace West. Both parents preceded her in death. Phyllis was educated in the Ritenour School System where she earned her diploma in 1960. She went on to attend Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. While there, she pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (Alpha Iota Chapter) in the spring of 1964. She graduated from Lincoln with a Bachelors of Arts degree (a minor in psychology) in August of 1966. During her life travels, Phyllis held various positions as teacher, youth worker, and bus driver, but her most beloved positions were as art teacher (pottery, jewelry making, and creating large scale murals) and as administrative assistant to the internationally renowned Katherine Dunham with whom she began working in 1968. Phyllis accompanied Ms. Dunham on many travels that spanned national and international locations from New York to Haiti. Phyllis was loved, respected and admired by all who knew her. She possessed talent, skill, and sincerity. You could easily find Phyllis repairing or reconstructing someone's home, yard, or automobile. In 1984, Phyllis united with Parks Chapel AME Church in Oakland, California under the pastorate of the Reverend Dewitt Graham and then in 1997 at St. Luke's AME Church under the pastorate of the Reverend Claudine Murphy. She sang in the choir, served as Sunday School Superintendent, and was a good trustee and steward. Also she was an officer of the local Lay Organization and sang in the Missouri Conference Choir. Phyllis remained a faithful, loving member until the time of her transition. After being diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2007, Phyllis fought the good fight until the Lord called her to reward at 1 :55 a.m. on February 8, 2009, at St. Anthony's Hospice House (de Greef Hospice) in Jefferson County, Missouri. Phyllis leaves to cherish her memory: one sister, LaVerne D. Brown (Deon); one brother, Lawrence B. Temple (Britt); one nephew, Jelani D. Brown; one-very special niece, Osha Knox; three aunts, Dorothy C. Johnson, Ruth Johnson and Helen Commons, and a host of other aunts, cousins, relatives and friends.Internment:Lake Charles Cemetery .