Obituary of Rev. Professor Stephanie LaVerne Phillips Emeritus

CHILI, NY – August 15, 2024 Stephanie Lavern Phillips was born January 24, 1952 in Manhatten, NY. She is the daughter of the late Rev. Porter Phillps Jr. and the late Dorothy (Bobo) Phillips. She married Barbara Turner. Educated in Buffalo NY, Stephanie graduated from Buffalo Seminary then attended Antioch College in Ohio. She returned to Buffalo to earn her bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Buffalo, then proceeded to Harvard University to pursue law. Upon graduating Harvard, Stephanie was a clerk for the Staff Attorney’s Office in the U. S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, San Francisco, then a visiting Law Professor at the University of Miami Law school. While as an Associate Lawyer at Sterns, Weaver and Miller Law Firm from 1983 until 1988 Stephanie developed an expertise in litigating securities issues. She shared this knowledge teaching a course on Securities Regulation. Her other substantive course was Conflict of Laws. In 1989 she accepted a position at the University of Buffalo as a Professor of Law where she remained for the next 33 years. While at the Law School, Stephanie had many achievements including her work as coordinator of the “Workshop on Critical Race Theory” a conference of law professors for throughout the nation word were writing on issues of race and law. The conference took place at the University of Buffalo Law School. Stephanie and collaborated with her colleague, Professor Athena Mutua, to create and teach Critical Race Theory seminars focusing on the social construction of race, gender and sexuality. The duo also developed a multiyear teaching project highlighting African American’s and legal history. Stephanie was the American Academy of Religion/Luce Foundation Fellow theologies of Religious Pluralism and Comparative Theology recipient in 2012 – 2013. Stephanie earned her certification as a Teacher of Law and Mindfulness from Berkley, CA. That lead to Stephanie becoming the project director for Conference: Launching S.U.N.Y. Initiatives on Mindfulness and Health (funded by S.U.N.Y. Conversations in the Disciplines”); Planning Committee Member, Panelist (Mindfulness & Campus Services”) at SUNY Buffalo. Stephanie gave her time freely as a board member of Paradise Recovery House, Buffalo, NY, Unity Fellowship Church in Christ Church, VOICE – Buffalo, Mindful Alliance of Buffalo. Stephanie was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Inc. REV. Professor Stephanie LaVerne Phillips, Professor of Law Emeritus University of Buffalo 72, formerly of Buffalo, N.Y, died peacefully on August 15th in surrounded by her family. Pre-deceased by her mother and father, Rev. Porter W. Phillips Jr. and Dorothy Bobo Phillips, Sisters Claudia (Walter) Douglas, and Dorothy (Gregory) Prude. Stephanie is survived by; her loving wife, Barbara Turner (Rochester); Bonus Daughter, Delora Nicole Turner (Westchester, NY); Bonus Son, Dominic (Alicia) McCloud (Rochester); Sister, Rev. Adrienne Phillips (Charlotte, NC) and a host of family and friends. Friends may call Saturday, August 31, 2024 from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM at First Shiloh Baptist Church, 15 Pine Street, Buffalo, NY 14204. The Funeral Service to Celebrate Stephanie’s life will immediately follow at 12:00 Noon.