The Lake Charles Chapter of the Louisiana Society Order of Confederate Rose was organized in April, 1996.  After much research and consideration, Eugenia Levy Phillips was chosen as the chapter’s namesake.  She was a strong-willed, determined, outspoken and tenacious woman devoted to the South.  Eugenia gave aid to the Society’s namesake, Rose O’Neal Greenhow in efforts to assist the Confederacy and also in providing comforts to Confederate prisoners. A short bio and several photos follow.

Eugenia Levy was born October 24, 1819 in Charleston, South Carolina to Jacob C. Levy and Fannie Yates, both of Jewish faith.  She was one of six daughters and all were very well educated.  At the age of 16, Eugenia married Philip Phillips.  He was a very prominent Jewish businessman thirteen years her senior.  The Phillips family resided for eighteen years in Mobile, Alabama where Philip practiced law.  Seven of their nine children were born in Mobile.

 

(Left – Eugenia Levy Phillips in Washington D.C.)

In 1853 Philip Phillips was elected to Congress and moved his family to Washington, D.C. where the last two of their children were born.  Eugenia took great delight in the social life of Washington.  In 1855, Philip left the political scene and set up private practice in Washington.  He was strongly against secession which made him and Eugenia diametrically opposed. Eugenia made it clear that her support and loyalties to the South were unwavering.