The service on Tuesday is expected to be live streamed.  Tune to Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Shelby, North Carolina's OR Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church, Hickory, North Carolina's webpage or FaceBook page.  We apologize that the exact location is not solidified.

Reflections of a Life Well Lived

Mrs. Phyllis Jeannette Ross Toms was born October 19, 1952, to the late Ted Henry Ross, Sr. and Mary Moses Ross in Cleveland County, North Carolina.  She departed this earthly life to her life eternal on February 14, 2025, at Wendover Hospice House, Shelby, North Carolina.

Phyllis was a 1971 graduate of Shelby High School.  Mrs. Toms was one of a group of African American students that integrated Shelby Junior High School (SJHS) in the seventh grade.  While attending SJHS she proved to be a stellar student academically while at the same time playing the flute in the band, as well as playing on the basketball team.  She maintained a B average or above and was consistently an honor roll student during her tenure at SJHS.

As Phyllis entered Shelby High School, she continued her academic prowess as she continued to be on the Honor roll, participating in many organizations and clubs such as the Future Homemakers of America and the Spanish Club to name a few.  Phyllis was a class officer and served as campaign manager for Alvin Gentry for Class President.  She excelled in basketball as she was a starter her junior and senior years.  Her excellence in Spanish was well known as she was very fluent. So much so, she was offered a full scholarship to Wingate College in 1971, which was unprecedented for an African American female in that era.

After graduation Mrs. Toms attended Spartanburg Junior College (Spartanburg Methodist University-SMU) where her boyfriend and future husband, Forrest Toms, was a star scholarship athlete.  Once again, she excelled academically making the Dean's List both semesters.  While attending (SMU) Phyllis and Forrest were successful in getting more than twenty-five students enrolled in college, assisting them with their college applications and financial aid packages. After one year at SMU, in the fall of 1972, Phyllis, along with Forrest, transferred to Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  Again, Phyllis excelled academically by consistently being on the Honor roll while majoring in Education with a minor in History and Social Studies. She was recognized by her mentors for her dedication to excellence in the classroom and how she related to students.  Mrs. Toms graduated in the Spring of 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She continued her graduate education with coursework in Middle Eastern Studies at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

Over her more than thirty years as an educator Mrs. Toms was certified to teach in several states:   Rutherford County Schools in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Crest Junior High School in Shelby, North Carolina; Cleveland County Schools; Wake County Schools in Raleigh , North Carolina; District of Columbia Schools; Prince George County Schools in Maryland and Virginia; and Hickory City Schools in North Carolina.   In the school systems she where she worked, Mrs. Toms was well known for her Black History Month Programs, posters and memorabilia gathered from her travels and travels of her husband. Mrs. Toms was part of a two-week mission trip to Haiti where they distributed medical supplies and administered medicine to thousands during that time.  She was selected as one of twenty History teachers across North Carolina to participate in a six-week Teacher Exchange Program in Jamaica. In all, Mrs. Toms had a stellar career as an educator and leader in her field.

Mrs. Toms was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.  She recognized the importance of connection with God by worshipping at Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church while in Hickory, North Carolina and Mount Calvary Baptist Church upon relocating to Shelby, North Carolina.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Toms was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother,  Samantha "Lady" Lee Moses; paternal grandmother, Eliza B. Ross and a brother Ted H. Ross, Jr.

She leaves to honor her rich legacy and mourn her absence, her loving husband, Forrest D. Toms, Sr. of the home; son, Forrest D. Toms, Jr. of Charlottesville, Virginia; daughter Zakiya Toms of Shelby, North Carolina; sister, Nancy Ross (Jonathan) Starr of Kings Mountain, North Carolina; special friends, Carla Kincaid, Sherbia Jones, Ruth Mitchell, Charlene Hopper, Linda Pass-Fowler; Sherry Bass, Gilma Thompson and Billie Joe Gentry; along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Public Viewing will be held Saturday, February 22, 2025 at Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church 3147 12th Avenue SE, Hickory, North Carolina from 12:00pm to 2:00pm. Reverend Marcus Williams officiating.

Celebration of Life Service will be held on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 422 Carolina Avenue, Shelby, North Carolina at 3:00pm. Family Visitation hour will be from 2:00pm to 3:00pm at the church. Reverend Lamont Littlejohn officiating.
Dirk M. Thompson Mortuary is serving the Toms family. (828) 323-1980