Obituary of Audrey P. Highsmith

Audrey Phillips Highsmith, educator, and community advocate passed away peacefully on June 27, 2020. She was born on September 13, 1930 to Pastor Mildred Clifton and Edna May (Holloway) Phillips. After graduating from Dunbar High School (Baltimore), she attended and became an esteemed alumna of Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina. Following graduation from Bennett, she returned to Baltimore to begin a career of professional and community service. She worked at the House of Good Shepherd as a social worker for juvenile girls in the late 1950's. She also worked for the Rosewood State Hospital teaching home economics at the school on the hospital's campus. From there she went to Baltimore City Public Schools and worked at Venable High School to serve first as a home economics teacher and later as an administrator, where she remained until her retirement. After retirement from the Baltimore Public School system, she went to work for the Baltimore County Public Schools as the Maryland MESA Coordinator from 1999 to 2013. As Coordinator she was responsible for the operation of the MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) Program at the school level. Alongside her professional endeavors, she was a devoted member of the Heritage United Church of Christ where she worshipped for more than 40 years. Her service to and through the church included the Heritage Choir, the Eliza Lindsay's Place Seniors Social Club, the Culinary Services ministry, the Boomers group, the Harvest Festival coordinator, the Scholarship and Leadership Guild, Altar Guild, and past Chair of the Diaconate Board. She was a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Omega Chapter, and a past president of the Baltimore Chapter of the Bennett College National Alumnae Association. An avid traveler and music lover. She lived a life of service to community, friends, family, and anyone in need. Her legacy joins those of her siblings who predeceased her (Clifton Phillips, Milton Phillips, Norman Phillips, Berniece Phillips Thompson and Alice Phillips) and is survived by her two sisters, Levesta Phillips Mitchell and Catherine Phillips Best along with a host of nieces and nephews who are inspired to continue in her example.