Maxine Phillips, a retired City College counselor, died on Nov. 1 from cancer of the lungs, liver and brain. Philips worked as a full-time counselor for City College for 17 years, from 1989 to 2006.

Phillips will be most remembered for mentoring students and other individuals at City College, especially black students. She took an active role in a program helping students pick courses for transfer to a university.

“It was a program designed to improve the transfer rate among black students and to help them fulfill their degrees,” said Rick Reese, a City College counselor
and one of the individuals who Phillips mentored.

According to Reese, Phillips set up field trips for black students to tour black colleges, including Howard University in Washington, D.C. She initiated these tours because they proved to be successful and an inspiration. Most of the students
went on to either transfer to a four-year university or graduate with a degree from City College, Reese said.

Phillips also shared her story as a longtime breast cancer survivor with support groups and partook in cancer fundraisers.

“She would constantly remind me that she had cancer, cancer didn’t have her,” said Victoria Henderson, the Cultural Awareness Center coordinator at City College. “Phillips wanted students to know the importance of early detection and that having breast cancer is a challenge, not a death sentence.”

Phillips was a leader in the counseling center and dedicated her life to making sure students with financial needs had an opportunity to move on to a four-year school if they wanted. She helped raise scholarship money, including a fund that was created in memory of her son Kevin A. Chapman, who died in 1989. These scholarships would go toward helping students who couldn’t afford college.

“She was very intelligent and resourceful, and much of what she said and did was listened to,” said Maria Fabionar, a City College counselor and good friend of Phillips.

“She was an extremely strong and loving woman who acted upon what she felt was right.” A dogwood tree is located next to Rodda North. A plaque on the tree reads “In Honor of Maxine Phillips 2008.”

“Maxine Phillips’ presence will live at Sacramento City College forever,” Henderson said.