Elizabeth Walker, affectionately known as “Big Mama” and “Sapphire,” a precious gem, was a

beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and friend. She

peacefully transitioned from this life on August 31, 2026, leaving behind a beautiful legacy of

love, service, generosity, and family.

Elizabeth was born on December 12, 1944, in Birmingham, Alabama, to Shepherd and Ellen

Walker. They both preceded her in death. She was educated in the Birmingham public school

system and later relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1971, where she built a life centered around

family, community, and service to others.

Elizabeth was married to Robert Phillips. Although no children were born of their union, God

blessed Elizabeth with five children whom she loved dearly: Franklin (Pam), William

(deceased), Stephen (Marsha), Ellen, and Myra (DiFranco).

Her family continued to grow, and one of Elizabeth’s greatest joys was being “Big Mama” to her

grandchildren: Tanisha, LaTanisha, Brittany, TeAirra, Darlene Cecil (deceased), Tyrone, Ricardo,

Jasmine, Stephen, Stephanie, Junior, Joshua, Charmion, Ebony, Erron, and Emoni, along with a

host of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

For many years, Elizabeth shared one of her greatest gifts with others through her work as a

cook. She served in several organizations throughout the Cleveland community, including the

Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center and the Montessori school system through Hope

Academy.

To know Elizabeth was to know that feeding people was one of the ways she loved them. She

spent a lifetime preparing delicious meals and bringing people together around the dinner table.

No one entered her home and left hungry. Whether she was feeding a crowd of strangers or a

kitchen full of family and friends, Elizabeth poured her heart and soul into every meal. Her

homemade cakes and legendary banana pudding became family favorites, but what made her

food special was the love behind it. Cooking was never simply something Elizabeth did—it was

one of the many ways she cared for people.

Elizabeth’s heart for others extended far beyond her kitchen. She was a loyal and dedicated

servant to her community, especially through her work with Continue Life, a transitional housing

program serving pregnant and parenting teens. There, Elizabeth gave young women much more

than cooking lessons. She taught life skills, encouraged them to become loving and confident

mothers, reminded them to continue setting goals for themselves, and inspired them to pursue all

that God had for their lives. She remained committed to this work until her retirement in 2006.

In retirement, Elizabeth enjoyed what mattered most to her: spending time with her family and

traveling. She especially cherished the time she spent with her great-grandson, Demetrius,

affectionately known as “Scootie.” The two shared a special bond, and the time they spent

together brought her tremendous joy. After a lifetime of caring for and nurturing others,

Elizabeth continued to pour that same love into the generations that followed her, creating

memories that her family will carry with them for years to come.

Elizabeth—our Big Mama, our Sapphire, our precious gem—will be remembered for the meals

she prepared, the wisdom she shared, the people she encouraged, and the countless lives she

touched. Most of all, she will be remembered for her love: a love that welcomed, nurtured, fed,

encouraged, and brought people together.

Her life was a testament to the truth that some of the greatest legacies are built not through grand

gestures, but through a lifetime of opening your home, feeding those who are hungry,

encouraging those who need hope, caring for your family, and giving freely of yourself.

Big Mama’s table may never feel quite the same without her, but the love she placed

around it will remain with her family for generations to come.