Fannie M. Phillips, 85, of Palatka, entered the sunset of life on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at her Grand Pines residence in Palatka. A native of Pittsburgh, PA., she was born on Wednesday, September 29, 1926, to Charles Sr., & Lula Mott. She was a graduate of Fifth Avenue High School (Pittsburgh), class of 1943. Fannie resided in Belen, New Mexico for 25 years before moving to Palatka 5 years ago and was a former resident of Jacksonville, FL., Albany, GA., and Hackensack, NJ., and Detroit, MI. She had a distinguished, concurrent professional career spanning 67 years in both law enforcement and the medical field, specifically, as an officer, Pittsburgh Police Department; deputy sheriff, shift supervisor, and dispatch officer, Valencia County (NM) Sheriffs Office; professional nurse, operating room technician, St. Francis Hospital, Pittsburgh and dental assistant. One of her favorite career-related sayings was, I can mess you up or fix you up. Fannie served as Imperial Deputy, Luxor Court #188, Daughters of Isis,(Isiserettes), Oasis of Belen, Desert of New Mexico. She was a member of the Black Correctional Officers Association of New Mexico and the Jackson State University National Black Police Association. During more recent years, she served as a Senior Service Coordinator, City of Jacksonville and in the Grandparent Program in the Belen (NM) and the Putnam County (Moseley & River Breeze) School District. Fannie was a talkative person who loved to tell stories about her familys history and her many years of public and professional services within the agencies of her employment. She was expressively proud of her only child, her son, and would proudly tell stories of his upbringing for as long as she had an audience. At family gatherings, he would attempt to limit her conversation about him to limit his embarrassment. Although, not formally united with a local church home in Palatka, she occasionally visited Mt. Tabor First Baptist Church with her son. She was a very religious, God fearing woman, and would often say The Lord hears my cries and will bless me. Fannie will be greatly missed by her family, friends and especially her son. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in eternal rest by her only sibling, Charles Mott Jr. To cherish her memories: devoted son and daughter-in-law, John (Felecia) Nelson Jr., Palatka; niece, Charlene (Clarence) Mott-Harris, Pittsburgh, PA., nephew, Charles (Alesia ) Mott, III, Auburndale, FL; 7 grandchildren; Tawana (Alan) Shaw, Cincinnati; Danelle (Andrae) Nelson, Philadelphia; Janine (Michael) Morris, Mt. Laurel, NJ., John Nelson III, Cincinnati; Channon Brown, Corleous Brown and Deonna Lockhart, all of Palatka; 7 great-grandchildren; numerous other relatives and caring friends.

Visitation of family and friends will be 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, December 6, at the Chapel of Serenity. Homegoing Celebration will be 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 7 at the Chapel of Serenity, 2400 Madison Street, Palatka. Reverend Karl N. Flagg, Pastor of Mt. Tabor First Baptist Church, is the eulogist.

The family repast will be at the James A. Long Community Center, 601 North 21st Street, Palatka immediately following the services.