Phyllis G. Fauntleroy

Phyllis Gibbs Fauntleroy died from a non-covid 19 illness at the age of 98. Well educated, creative, and multi-talented, she lived a full, passionate, and productive life. She always wanted to be known for her own accomplishments and not just for her husband, John D. Fauntleroy, who was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson as a D.C. Juvenile Court Judge in 1967. He died in 1989.

After earning a BA degree in English at Howard University in 1945 and an MA in English from Columbia University Teachers College in 1946, she taught English and Public Speaking at Morgan State College, Howard University, Cardozo High School, Miner Teachers College, and Cortez Peters Business College. In the 1960s, after studying Library Science at Catholic University, she switched careers by becoming a Librarian at Petworth Library followed by 20 years at the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Institute.

Phyllis was an advocate for children and adults with disabilities. She was actively involved in LEAD, Inc. to sponsor group homes in D.C. She also served on the Mayor's State Planning Committee for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. She was proud of her civic activism, which began when she participated in the Howard University chapter of the NAACP's sit-ins to desegregate Thompson's restaurant in D.C. She was a volunteer worker at the 1963 March on Washington. As her last civic duty, she made sure she voted in the 2020 election by absentee ballot.

Always artistic, she developed a new style, which she named, Shellart, because each of her paintings had sea shells on them. She also painted sand dollars to be worn with a chain as a necklace. Her Shellart paintings have been displayed in several shows and one museum. She became an expert on the scientific names and types of shells by becoming the first Black member of the Smithsonian-sponsored National Shell Club.

As an avid writer, she authored and published two books on her unique art form. Phyllis was the Gibbs family genealogist. After extensive research, she authored the book, Linking the Gibbs Chain. She was an active member for many years in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Barrister's Wives, and the Arrowettes. When her first child was two, she founded a Mother-Daughter Club called the Madrecias. In the last 20+ years, she coordinated a spiritual singalong group that started while her oldest daughter battled with breast cancer. She was a long-time member of Northeastern Presbyterian Church and relished her role as a scripture reader while living her last years at Sunrise of Chevy Chase.

Phyllis lives on in the hearts and minds of her four children, Phylicia Fauntleroy Bowman (John), Jacqueline Fauntleroy Barber, John D. Fauntleroy, Jr. (Cynthia) and Frederick Gibbs Fauntleroy; her two grandchildren, H. Wendell Barber and Cynthia Anika Fauntleroy; seven great-grandchildren; four nieces and one nephew; one goddaughter; and many other family and friends.

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