Elgin in Kane County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Phyllis Jones Tilley

1906-2000

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 16, 2026

1. Phyllis Jones Tilley Marker

Inscription. “Miss Tilley" was born at 460 Hill Avenue and attended Sheridan Elementary School (Now O'Neal Elementary. After her father died, her mother remarried and moved the family to Springfield. She often visited her grandparents, Francis and Fanny Johnson at 454 Fremont Street. Her grandfather, Francis Johnson was a Civil War veteran.

Phyllis developed a successful career in educating pre-school children. She attended college in Virginia where she married the Rev. John Lee Tilley. While John was the head of the religion department at Shaw University, Phyllis directed the nursery school.

When John Tilley became president of Florida Normal College, Phyllis Tilley directed a family life center. After moving to Maryland, Phyllis directed the Children's Guild Nursery School, a nursery school for the Baltimore Housing Authority, and taught parent education at John Hopkins University.

After returning to Elgin in 1974, she became a member of the Second Baptist Church and one of the original residents of West Wind Towers, serving as an Ombudsman for Family Services Associates. Tilley read stories at a local nursery school until crippled

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with infirmities.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.

Location. 42° 2.522′ N, 88° 16.78′ W. Marker is in Elgin, Illinois, in Kane County. It is at the intersection of Kimball Street and Dundee Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Kimball Street. The marker is one of several in Newsome Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 280 Kimball Street, Elgin IL 60120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: La Verne Newsome (here, next to this marker); Mary Newsome Wheeler (here, next to this marker); Sherman Hunter

Markers in Newsome Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 16, 2026

2. Markers in Newsome Park

(here, next to this marker); Fremont Recreation Center / Second Baptist Church (here, next to this marker); Welcome to Newsome Park (here, next to this marker); Masjid Al-Wājidi (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Veterans Memorial (about 500 feet away); Pioneer Log Cabin of the 1830s (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elgin.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 25 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.