Despite pleas from her family to stay in Memphis for college, Phillips continued with her plan to attend the University of Tennessee, Knoxville on an academic scholarship. She made Jaidah a part of her college experience.
Phillips said she had countless"blessings" along the way of people who stepped in to help, from professors who allowed Jaidah to attend classes occasionally to a day care director who allowed Phillips to pay Jaidah's tuition by semester instead of by month because Phillips only received financial aid payments once a semester."Everyone supported me and I couldn't have done it without them.
"My parents gave me a great life and I knew that she deserved it no matter what tough decisions I had made," she said."I wanted to sacrifice whatever it was going to take to give her the life, the opportunities and exposure that she deserved."Jaidah Phillips, center, poses with her grandparents and younger sister Jewel in February 2021.
Phillips returned to Memphis after graduating and started a career as a television news reporter and anchor. She also went on to marry Jaidah's father and have three more children together.
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