Phyllis A. Baxter

On May 18, 1946, in Concord, North Carolina, Phyllis Baxter was born to the late Roy
Baxter, Sr. and Mrs. Raphael Spears Baxter. She was the oldest of the four children
born of this marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Baxter brought Phyllis up on firm moral ground.
Phyllis accepted Christ early in her life and was baptized at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church
in Charlotte, NC. In her adult years, Phyllis was an active member of Greater Mount
Sinai Baptist Church under the pastorate of Reverand Dr. Major A Stewart.
Phyllis was a proud graduate of Second Ward High School. After graduating from
Second Ward, Phyllis attended Johnson C Smith University. Before completing her
undergraduate studies at JCSU, Phyllis began working at The Federal Reserve Bank
(Charlotte Branch). After years of working, without being considered for a pay raise or
promotion, Phyllis was forced to take legal action to defend her civil rights. Phyllis was a
leading petitioner in Cooper v Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, a lawsuit against
The Federal Reserve Bank, which was heard before The United States Supreme Court.
Phyllis’ legal action led to equal pay for African American workers at The Federal
Reserve Bank. After Phyllis’ legal battle, she left The Federal Reserve Bank and gained
employment at The United States Post Office. Phyllis retired from USPS after more than
20 years of service.
Often times, Phyllis was a woman of few words. The only exception is when someone
asked her about Second Ward High School or when she was selling advertisements for
The Second Ward Class Reunion booklet. Phyllis served as the treasurer of Second
Ward Alumni association.
Phyllis leaves to cherish her memory her loving sister Mary Kathryn (Baxter)
Mohammed of Charlotte, an aunt, Sarada Mitchell of Washington DC, nieces Renee
Little of Charlotte, NC and Latonya Phillips of Jersey City, NJ, nephews Rashad Phillips
of Charlotte, NC and Jamil Phillips of Jersey City NJ, and host of family members,
Second Ward High School classmates, co-workers, and friends.