Catherine Lampkin went home to be with the Lord on October 26, 2017.

Catherine Lampkin was born April 10, 1930 in Ailey, Georgia to Sarah and Myers Phillips.  When Catherine was 5 years old, her father, Myers Phillips, passed away.  She was then raised by her mother and step-father, Robert Travis, Sr.  Catherine was the fifth child of nine siblings.  She grew up in Toombs County, Vidalia, Georgia and attended school in Vidalia.

Catherine accepted Christ as her personal Savior at a young age at Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Vidalia, Georgia. She later moved to Soperton, Georgia to live with her aunt and graduated from Treutlen County Training School in Soperton.

At age 18, Catherine relocated to Cleveland, Ohio.  She met and married Oliver Lampkin in 1952.  To this union, they were blessed with a daughter, Lovetta.  During that time, Catherine became a member of Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church.  She later moved her membership to Antioch Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Marvin McMickle.

Catherine was an accomplished seamstress and made dresses for herself, daughter, family and friends.  She worked for several years as a seamstress at Lampl’s Clothing Factory in Cleveland.  After Lampl’s closing, Catherine worked briefly for Progressive Designers, a company owned by her cousin.  She then had a productive career at Sears and Roebuck and was the first black female to become top salesperson at Sears, Randall Park Mall.  Catherine happily retired at age the age of 62.

In 2005 Catherine returned to reside in Vidalia, Georgia and was under the watch care of Rev. Dr. Carl Wardlaw, Jr. of First African Missionary Baptist Church.  In 2011 she returned to Cleveland, Ohio and was then reinstated at Antioch Baptist Church.

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Felton Phillips, Edward Phillips Jim L. Travis and one sister, Jennie Ruth Herring.

Catherine leaves to cherish her memories her daughter, Lovetta Larkins; grandson, Brian Larkins; great grandson, Christopher “Noah” Larkins; three sisters, Madie Revere, Elvera Lockhart, and Sarah Williams; one brother, Robert Travis, Jr. and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.