HOUSTON - LaVerne J. Phillips, formerly of Houston, Del., peacefully passed away at her daughter's residence in St. Augustine, Fla. on Nov. 2, 2015. LaVerne was born on June 16, 1920 to John and Eliza Hughes Jenkins in Kingston, Pa. She was raised in Kingston and later attended Blue Ridge College in New Windsor, Maryland majoring in music. She returned to Kingston for a time until she met and married her husband of 52 years, Byron M. ("Chip") Phillips. After the birth of their first child, Chip and LaVerne moved to Milford, Del. where Chip was a teacher at the high school. They later moved to Houston and made it their home for the next 47 years. LaVerne was a very accomplished musician playing the piano and organ. She taught piano in the living room of the family home to many neighbors, was the organist at church and the accompanist for the church choir. She was also routinely sought out as an organist for many, many weddings and asked to play piano for a litany of other events. She continued to play the piano for her entire life. After her youngest child started school, LaVerne embarked on a second career as an elementary school teacher at the Houston Elementary School. One year she had one of her daughters in her class and soon all her students called her "Mom" and lined up to give her a hug at dismissal each day. She later became one of the elementary school music teachers in the Milford School District and traveled among a number of schools. After she retired in 1982, LaVerne and Chip enjoyed ballroom and square dancing as well as traveling. The one thing, however, that they both enjoyed the most was spending time with their children and grandchildren. They were always available for babysitting and were in the front row of the audience whenever there was any kind of event that involved the family. Truly family was what they treasured most and the family relied upon both of them as the rock of the family. After the death of Chip, LaVerne found solace and comfort with her children and grandchildren and they all found support and comfort from her. In addition to her parents and her husband, LaVerne was predeceased by her brothers, Willard Jenkins and John Jenkins; a nephew, Bunker Jenkins; and a great-grandson, Lenin Douglas Allen. She is survived by her son, B. Eric Phillips (Mary Lou); her daughters Liza Giaccone (Doug), Brooke Slaughter (Mark) and Myfanwy Bonilla (her favorite) as well as her nephew, Jack Jenkins (Marilyn), and her niece, Gayle Mandle (Roger). She is also survived by her grandchildren Courtney Nieman (Keith), Whitney Phillips (Tim), Jeb Phillips (Marie), Windsor Allen (Will), Galen Giaccone (James), Phillip Giaccone, Rhys Slaughter (Kelly), Breck Slaughter, Cullan Bonilla, Sutton Bonilla and great-grandchildren Braden and Lily Nieman, Charlie Dougherty and Gray Slaughter. The family will hold a memorial service for LaVerne at the First Presbyterian Church in Milford on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. The family will receive visitors from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. with a service to follow immediately thereafter. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to LaVerne's favorite charities, St. Jude Research Hospital for Children at P.O. Box 1893, Memphis, Tenn. 38101-9950 or the Salvation Army.