Stephanie Phillips Obituary
Phillips, Rev. Professor Stephanie LaVerne
Jan 24, 1952 – Aug 15, 2024
Professor of Law Emeritus University of Buffalo, Chili-Stephane Phillips 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. 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. 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 was the American Academy of Religion/Luce Foundation Fellow theologies of Religious Pluralism and comparative Theology recipient in 2012-2013. Shephanie 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. Stephanie was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Inc. 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. Celebration of Stephanie’s life will be held on Saturday August 31, 2024 at 12:00 PM at First Shiloh Baptist Church, 15 Pine Street, Buffalo, New York 14204. Calling hours will begin at 11:00AM.
