Amy Lorraine Phillips

Our Beloved, Amy Lorraine Phillips, born January 26, 1933, passed peacefully from this earth on Friday, November 5, 2025, surrounded by the love and presence of her adoring family.

Lorraine, born to Hillary Vincent Pritchett and Areida Blythe (Meredith) Pritchett at their home in Toddville, Maryland, spoke fondly of her childhood. She proclaimed to all who would listen she had not one bad memory to recount from those formative years Although they lived quite a humble life, she, her two, older sisters (Dora Murphy, Louise Bramble) and their brother (Edward Pritchett) were rich in life and love, thanks to their attentive and caring parents.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her devoted “Daddy,” her Mom, all three of her siblings and the love of her life, Amos “Smitty” Phillips. What a reunion they must be having!

Back in the days of her childhood, Lorraine’s mom would walk to the local crab house, children in hand, to put in a long day’s work. At the age of 6, Lorraine began working her first job, picking crab claws, earning 2 cents per pound. She would follow in her mother’s footsteps, picking crabs for 40 years. Her highest pay would reach 17 cents per pound. Her highest record yielded 100 pounds of crab meat in one day! She was never afraid of hard work.

At the age of 16, Lorraine married Carl Mayes Shockley. Together, they had five, incredible children: Carlye Shockley (Susan), Sherry Krewson (Bob), Gary Shockley (Sophie), Areida Blythe (Mike), and Wendi Haines (Pete).

Through these children, she continued the legacy built by her parents. At the time of her passing, her family was blessed to experience 5, living generations to include Lorraine, her 5 children, 8 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and 16 great, great grandchildren (with 2 more due in 2026).

Lorraine would marry Smitty Phillips. Theirs was the love of a lifetime. Lorraine loved his 2 sons, 4 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren (as well as another due in 2026) as her own, even after his passing in 1988.

Lorraine and Smitty lived a beautiful life together in Hoopers Island, Maryland. He surrounded their home with gardens of roses, flowers and vegetables. Together, they filled their home with love. The grandchildren love telling tales of Christmas’ past when Mom-mom and “Pop” would line them all up in front of the tree and then disappear upstairs. The magic was thick in air with a Christmas village covered in snow beneath the tree and then house decked in Christmas wonder. Lorraine and Smittt would return down the stairs, arms loaded with the best gifts for each child.

On occasion, they loaded the grandkids up and headed to town for dinner out, a little shopping and a movie. Lorraine loves to tell the story of how, in bed that night, Smitty told “If we do this again, we’ll have to mortgage the house.” They loved their grandkids and always made time for them.

After 40 years of picking crabs, Lorraine became a mail carrier for the US Postal Service. She was known as “Miss Lorraine” to young and old on her route, which happened to run “Down Home.”

After delivering mail through rain, wind, snow, sleet, hail and high tide for 19 years, Lorraine retired from the USPS.

She moved to Cambridge where she would clean houses until she was 80 years old.

Although she faced many health struggles, Lorraine insisted on living alone right up until the time of her passing. She enjoyed the companionship of her dear friend Johnny Grenadier and always looked forward to their weekly visits.

Lorraine was an incredible homemaker. Through times of feast and times of famine, she took great pride in decorating and keeping her home. She hosted Sunday and holiday dinners at her home for her ever growing family for decades. Her children and grandchildren would always wonder what furniture might be rearranged or which walls might be repainted, wall papered or even knocked out from week to week. She would get an idea in her sleep and turn it into reality the next day.

Lorraine loved collecting and reading cookbooks. She was an incredible cook, making every dish with so much love. Her recipes have been shared throughout the generations of her family and are treasured by all.

In her 80’s, she discovered Facebook. Having no experience with technology, her family was amazed by how quickly she learned to navigate this new world. With the decline of her health, Facebook brought the connection she needed and craved to her children, friends, close cousins, nieces and nephews. It also gave her access to literally millions of recipes which she loved to share and test out.

Lorraine loved her pets. Although she was unable to have them later in her life, she always enjoyed the company of family members’ pets when they would bring them to visit.

Lorraine was a gatherer. She gathered recipes and cookbooks, curtains and bedspreads, dishes and trinkets, and furniture. Some may even say she had a slight addiction.

Most of all, she gathered hearts. Lorraine loved sitting in her rocking chair in a room filled with her family who had gathered together in hopes of hearing her tell a story from days gone by, eat a bite of this or that and just sit in the warmth of her love that filled the room…the result of 92 years of a life well lived.

Lorraine said in her last months of life that there was nothing left in this world she needed to see or to do…she said “I have lived a great life!”

Lorraine loved the Lord and trusted His hand throughout her entire life. She found comfort in prayer and sought His provision to care for all of her needs.

Lorraine…Dolly…Rainey…Mom…Mom-mom Lorraine…Mom-mom Raine…Aunt Lorraine…Cousin Lorraine…Miss Lorraine.. She was so many things to so many people.

Truly the Matriarch of her family, she will be missed endlessly. Her departure from this world will leave a hole in the hearts of many. Her family is grateful for the hope she had in Jesus (and shared with them all) and her assurance they will one day gather again…on Heaven’s peaceful shores.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 9, 2025 beginning 2:00 p.m. at Newcomb and Collins Funeral Home, P.A. Cambridge with Pastor Steve Bloodsworth officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 till 2:00 .A private burial will be held later in the week at the Maryland Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery, Hurlock, MD.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Lorraine's name can be sent to Kitty City Rescue, P.O. Box 1259, Cambridge, MD 21613 or Baywater Animal Rescue, 4930 Bucktown Road, Cambridge, MD 21613.