Caring Against All Odds
/Mary Adele Philips, 70, pursues master’s degree in nursing administration
By Phoebe Warren
photos by shane darby.
Mary Adele Philips is part of a lineage of nurses: “five generations past and yet growing,” she said, explaining that her great-great-grandmother, great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and aunt all worked in nursing. “There is no doubt in my mind that our family has been anointed and appointed to be God’s caretakers,” she said. “This call runs as deep as my family heritage and is woven into the very essence of who I am.”
“I refuse to allow age to define my potential. It is never too late to pursue your dream.”
Mary began her nursing journey in 1982, after graduating from Texarkana College. During her clinical rotation in the hemodialysis unit, the chief of staff, Dr. C. Jack Smith, extended a job offer. Mary described this as the moment that set her up for “43 years of unwavering commitment and love for hemodialysis.” She currently works weekends at CHRISTUS Health Pine Street as a house supervisor.
photo by shane darby.
inset: Mary in September 1988 after receiving her RN licensure. submitted photo.
During the week, Mary is pursuing a master of science in nursing administration at Texas A&M University–Texarkana. She is on track to graduate in December 2025 with a 4.0 GPA.
“My personal mantra is this: ‘Education rules the nation,’” she said. “I refuse to allow age to define my potential. It is never too late to pursue your dream. If my journey encourages even one person to embrace lifelong learning, then every late-night study session, every obstacle, and every breakthrough will have been worth it. More than anything, I pray to be a great example for my daughters, grandson, and nieces as they pursue higher degrees in the field of nursing.”
Kenya and Michelle, Mary’s daughters, are also nurses. submitted photo.
Mary is no stranger to being a patient herself. “I have endured two brain surgeries, three neck surgeries, a rotator cuff repair, and a 7.5-hour back surgery,” she said. She underwent chemotherapy and 33 rounds of radiation for breast cancer, as well as bilateral reconstructive surgery, which resulted in life-threatening sepsis. As if these medical trials were not enough, Mary was also the victim of a carjacking crime that occurred in Dallas, Texas, in 2018. The carjacker swung a knife at Mary, which she gripped in her left hand; the injuries she sustained required another major surgery and months of physical therapy. The man drove away with Mary still in the car, where she was held hostage before he was stopped and apprehended. “He did not encounter a victim,” she said. “He met a warrior. By God’s grace I am left-handed, and I lived to tell the tale.”
The future is still limitless for Mary, who continues to serve her community, pursue education, and ultimately, act as a divine caretaker of others.