Carolyn Jill Phelps, age 73, went home to be with the Lord peacefully in Traverse City, Michigan on December 15, 2013.

She had been a resident of Traverse City since May of 2010.

She was born in Francisco, IN on July 22, 1940, the daughter of John and Edna (Ennes) Steelman, both deceased.

She was married on June 24, 1967 to Rev. Dr. Ray Phelps. 

Jill committed her life to a personal relationship with the Lord at a very early age and was baptized at the Shiloh United Methodist Church, Hazelton, IN on Feb. 17, 1952. She assisted her husband, Rev. Phelps as a pastor’s wife for 42 consecutive years. 

She graduated from the Mt. Olympus High School in 1958 and entered Oakland City University in 1958. She graduated with a BS degree in Business and Music in 1962. She was a member of the Silvertone Trio during and after her college graduation. The trio composed of Barry Waddle (a good friend), her husband, Ray and Jill, proudly produced an album of sacred music at the famous Sam Phillips Recording Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, where Elvis Presley was then recording. 

Following her graduation from college, the trio joined an evangelistic team with Rev. Dr. John and Romaine Woodhouse. The trio resigned their teaching and pastoral position and traveled throughout the east coast and into the Caribbean Islands. Later, she and her husband entered Southern Baptist Theological Seminary whereupon she earned a Master of Religious Education degree and became the first Youth Director for the General Baptist denomination. 

She earned a second Master of Arts degree in Business from Evansville University, Evansville, IN. and was a former associate professor at Oakland City University; former secondary education teacher at Princeton Community High School; former Director of Happy Times Nursery School and Happy Times Daycare at First G.B. Church, Princeton, IN; former teacher for 18 years at the Mott Adult High School, Flint, MI. She retired from teaching after 32 years. 

She was a member of the General Baptist Denominational Christian Education Board; member and past president of the G.B. Denominational Women’s Ministry; and member of the Wayside Witness of General Baptist Women’s Ministry. She was a missionary to Saipan Community Church and School, Marianas Island. Jill was also a full-time mother to her son, Corey Ray Phelps and a pastor’s wife for 45 year. 

She was a member of the Florissant General Baptist Church, St. Louis, MO and an associate member of the First Congregational Church, Traverse City, MI. 

Jill is survived by her husband of 46 years, Rev. Dr. Ray Phelps of Traverse City, MI; son and daughter-in-law, Corey Ray (Julia Elizabeth) Phelps of Traverse City, MI; twin granddaughters, Reagan Sophia and Riley Grace Phelps; brothers, John Lee (Mary) Steelman and Jack Everett (Marilyn) Steelman both of Patoka; 2 aunts, Laura (Louis) Smith of Huntsville, AL and Frances Wright of Houston, TX; and several nieces and nephews. 

Funeral services will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, December 21, 2013 at First General Baptist Church in Princeton, IN officiated by Rev. Dr. Ron Black and Rev. Dr. Jack Eberhardt. Burial will follow in the Shiloh Cemetery in Hazleton, IN.

Visitation will be from 4 until 8 PM on Friday at the Colvin Funeral Home, Princeton, IN and from 1 PM until service time on Saturday at the church.