Menesha Marier Dean-Phillips "Nece", the eldest daughter and second of nine children born to the late Samuel Dean and Ida Louise Newbold Dean on November 12, 1952 in Bronx, New York. She was her daddys first little girl and she enjoyed sharing memories of how quiet the house was before seven other children were born. She attended public schools in New York and was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School. Menesha and her siblings were raised in a Christian home where Christ was ALWAYS at the center of their upbringing. She loved being the eldest sister. Often held responsible for watching over her younger siblings, she would remind each of them of her rank in the birth order, and that what she said was usually how it was going to go! As an adult, she accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. She believed, declared, and reminded everyone that she was a child of THE MOST HIGH GOD! Menesha worked as an executive secretary on Park Avenue in New York City at The Wyatt Company, an actuarial and consultant firm. She loved her job and was good at it. She stayed there until she retired. After retirement, she relocated to Florida and purchased her first home in Brandon. To her, it was a little piece of heaven on earth! Menesha believed in celebrating her accomplishments. She enjoyed listening to various genres of music, dancing, dining out with family and friends, playing board games, making her favorite dish (potato salad), and watching her favorite shows on TV. In her later years, she found a certain urgency to share her Christian faith. She made it a personal goal to tell everyone who would listen about her love for the Lord and how God is so good! As a result of her desire to please the Lord, Menesha expressed her gratitude by being generous to all who knew her. She always loved celebrating her siblings' birthdays whether through texts, calls, or cards/gifts in the mail; Nece found a way to show her love. She was loved by her family and friends for extending such love. She was "Big Sis" to her siblings, and her influence on them will forever remain in their lives. Menesha quietly departed from this life to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at her home. She was preceded in death by her father, Samuel Dean; mother, Ida Dean; and brother, Jeffrey Dean. Her beautiful life will be cherished and forever missed in the lives of her family and friends. Menesha is survived by her aunt, Marion Newbold-Daley; uncles, Henry Newbold Jr. (Uncle Sonny); and Buddy Newbold; former husband, Austin Phillips; brothers, Alexander Dean and Samuel Dean of Brooklyn, NY, and Peter Dean of Cortlandt Manor, NY; sisters, Drusilla Dean-Wilson of Ocala, FL, Beverly Dean-Peters of Newport Richey, FL, Lena Dean-Jeune of Dallas, GA, and Pearl Dean-Wilson of Freeport, NY; brothers-in-law, Guy Jeune, and Victor Wilson; sisters-in-law, Jaime Dean, Annette Dean, and Millie Dean; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, great-grand nieces, a great-grand nephew, cousins, and friends.

Funeral Service
Saturday, February 5, 2022
11:00 AM
Without Walls International Church
4414 N. Grady Avenue
Tampa, FL 33614