15 minute read
Philip Mobley
Coming Home
Community Highlight:
Philip with his sisters,Narragansett “Narrie” Smith and Mattie Jones
Growing up, Philip Mobley couldn’t wait to leave his hometown behind —determined to become more than just “one of the Mobley boys.” The funny thing about hometowns, though, is they tend to leave roots that are always ready to bloom again. Six years ago, Philip returned to Columbia County equipped with over three decades of knowledge and experience in ministry, leadership and educational work to help close inequity gaps in the community and bring fundamental changes to the area—proving that the best journeys often lead back home.
The son of Pastor L. U. and Mattie Elizabeth Mobley, Philip—along with his three older brothers Nathaniel, Samuel and Lewis and two younger sisters Mattie Jones and Narragansett “Narrie” Smith—was raised on three core principles that followed him into adulthood: hard work, education and ministry.
In primary and secondary school, Philip, whose family moved to Lake City from Gainesville when he was 8 months old, was a self-proclaimed nerd: always eager to learn despite the societal obstacles that often prevented him and his peers from doing so. Being an AfricanAmerican student in the ’60s, segregation was the norm until Philip’s senior year when the county implemented full integration in schools. While many around him struggled in the transition, Philip immediately recognized the ensuing benefits—from newfound opportunities like the ability to join the drama club, the yearbook committee and the Beta club to having access to up-to-date school books rather than secondhand resources—he took the experience in stride while laying the groundwork for a future of “firsts.”
In 1971, Philip was part of the first fully-integrated graduating class at Columbia High School and continued his accolades at Lake City Community College (FGC), where he earned his AA degree and became the first AfricanAmerican student government president; at the University of North Florida, where he became the first African-American to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Computer Science; and at Florida Blue, where he maintained a 33-year
career as a project manager before being the first AfricanAmerican Director of Enterprise Resource Planning, the Director of Business Process Management and Director of Cultural Competency and Diversity.
“I was comfortable in my skin, I was comfortable where I was, but I also felt the challenge of proving to people that I was academically sound and things were not given to me because of my race. I felt like I had to earn everything and I worked hard to make sure I earned everything,” he recalls.
Outside the office of his growing career at Florida Blue, Philip sustained the role of a youth minister and later elder pastor at the Northside Church of Christ in Jacksonville where he helped form and ultimately became the director of the W.I.N. Night Basketball Team—a crime prevention and youth empowerment program under the nonprofit Northside Community Involvement.
“Where I got the energy is from working with people and seeing, changing the lives of young people. In our ministry—our youth ministry in Jacksonville—we had about 300 young people in our youth ministry, so it was a big youth ministry, but it was one that was very, very rewarding,” he says.
In addition to community involvement within his ministry, Philip also served on several boards outside the church including the UNF Alumni Association, Leadership Jacksonville, OneJax, the Jacksonville Housing Commission and Family Support Services. It was also while living and working in Jacksonville that Philip pursued his Master’s in Business Administration from Jacksonville University, completed his Doctorate in Education at UNF and, after retiring from Florida Blue, worked as the Executive Director of Organizational Effectiveness for the Duval County Public Schools.
Each of these accomplishments built upon the pillars of the Mobley family’s values: hard work, education and ministry. L.U. Mobley, who became a community figure as an educator and minister, was the patriarch of the Mobley family and instilled in his children the desire to help others and, for his youngest three, the drive to forge a similar career path.
While Philip was making headway in Jacksonville, his sister Mattie Jones started her career as the Director of Nursing at Lake Shore before becoming an educator at Florida Gateway College and minister at New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Jasper. The youngest sibling, Narrie, followed suit by serving as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Columbia County before advancing to the chairperson of the school board and minister of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. The family legacy continued with each generation as Phillip’s daughter, Shanna, and several of his nieces took an interest in the rewarding world of education.
“Education and ministry are really, it’s been in our DNA,” says Phillip, whose wife, Lotonia, is a retired special education teacher.
While his dad may have influenced their career aspirations, it was Philip’s mom, Mattie Elizabeth, who was the glue that kept everyone together.
In 2015, Philip left Jacksonville and returned to Lake City where he continued following his passion for helping others and working to make the community he lives in a better place.
Apart from being the minister of Northside Church of Christ in Lake City, since coming home, Philip partnered with his sister Narrie to form Gateway Youth and Family Services, a nonprofit that provides resources and services to families in need, in honor of their niece Sharron, who was an educator in Orlando before she passed away in a car accident in 2017.
“I wanted to be able to do something to help families within urban— especially struggling families that are dealing with certain challenges—to be able to help break the cycle of sometimes poverty. So that’s always been my passion work is just working with families and children,” he says.
When looking to expand their outreach, Philip learned that the nonprofit Partnerships for Strong Families received a grant to open a resource center in Lake City. Realizing their goals aligned, Philip and members of the neighboring nonprofit worked in conjunction to create the NorthStar Family Resource Center, which opened in the historic Richardson Community Center in March 2021.
“We have served thousands of people since we opened our doors,” he says. “We help anyone. There is no age, color or financial requirement. Anyone who comes to us, we will help them and, really, what we do is help people navigate some of the complex systems to be able to get the resources that they need. Most of the people that we deal with are homeless, about to be homeless, people that are dealing with hardships, about to have their power turned off or need financial assistance,” he says.
“And the reason we use the term ‘Northstar,’ is because we want to be the North Star for our community where people, wherever they need it if they’re struggling and they don’t know where to go, they come to Northstar and we will direct them to where they need to go.”
Similar to Gateway Youth and Family Services, the NorthStar Family Resource Center acts as a guide helping those in need find the answers they’re searching for whether that concerns senior services, academic assistance or job applications. In addition to in-office support, the center also hosts community events like back-to-school backpack giveaways, clothing donations, youth leadership summits and health fairs.
“I think that the key is, the resource center, one of the things is that we strive very hard to be nonjudgmental and we work with people’s strengths, you know, our whole focus is not to focus on your weaknesses or your problems, but to figure out what your strengths are and, with those strengths, we will help you. Our thing is we want you to thrive, we want your children to thrive, so we believe in figuring out a way to help people thrive,” he says.
There’s no way around it: Change takes time. Nevertheless, change—no matter how difficult—is possible: a concept Philip has witnessed firsthand time and time again.
Pastor Philip Mobley
“I would really like for this community— Columbia County—to become a model where people can say, you know, this small, southern community, their poverty rates are low, their education attainments are high and their health disparities are just about, you know, and I think that can happen. I really think that can happen and then, as a result, we can really help change some things just nationwide, but we got to do it in our community first and I think Lake City is a good place because Lake City is a family community, a spiritual community. I think it can happen here,” he says.
“I truly believe that my faith is what has me where I am and I just believe that because our community is such a faith community that we can work together as a community to make a change, and that’s what I would love to see.”
Throughout his career and altruistic efforts, Philip has donned many titles, but some of the most important ones began right at home where he became a father of two to daughter, Shanna, and his late son, Philip Jr; grandfather of six and great-grandfather of two. Through it all, he never would have guessed that after 30 years, he’d find his way back to Lake City. Granted, there have been a lot of moments in his life that he didn’t necessarily plan on, but when each door opened, Philip always knew that the only answer was to go through it.
“I have just worked hard and things have happened to me and I have just followed. I’m one of those people that believe and I pray for God to direct me in certain things and when opportunities come, I move toward them,” he says.
Brandon, Philip, Sr., Brylon and Shanna Philip and his wife Lotonia
Philip’s parents, Pastor L. U. and Mattie Elizabeth Mobley, and siblings Nathaniel, Samuel, Lewis, Narragansett “Narrie”, Mattie and Philip.
GOALS GUIDANCE SUCCESS
Florida Gateway College has plenty to o er prospective students whether it’s their diverse curriculum of over 60 programs or low tuition rates coupled with recommendations for grants, scholarships and work-study programs, but what about after enrollment? From one-on-one advising and assistance in creating a plan postgraduation to providing on-campus housing and an array of activities both virtual and inperson, students at FGC can get the full college experience while receiving individual support every step of the way.
ADVISING
Once a student enrolls at FGC, they’re assigned an advisor who they connect with either in-person, by phone or by email to discuss their educational and career goals – whether that’s earning a certi cate, an associate’s degree or ultimately transferring to another college. Advisors also explain college policies and procedures and provide students with information about helpful resources regarding nancial aid and the Student Success Center.
“From there, we do what we call proactive advising. So, we don’t wait for the student to wander back up to us or make a phone call or send an email,” said Sandi Tomlinson, the Associate Dean of Student A airs.
Proactive advising involves conducting various campaigns to help keep students on track whether that’s notifying students if they’re falling behind in one of their courses; tracking a student’s academic standing, or reaching out when a student has 45 credits to ensure they meet the requirements for graduation.
“A lot of proactive advising goes on. It’s changed in the last 10 years dramatically and the last 5 even more dramatically. I know when I went to college, you were lucky if you got to see your advisor once every 2 or 3 years, so they really do push to try to see their students every semester,” Tomlinson said.
Advising also assists students wishing to transfer post-graduation, whether that’s making sure they’ve earned the necessary prerequisites for the program they’re interested in or walking them through what that particular college requires of applicants.
O ce of Advising Services: Phone: 386-754-4222 Email: advising@fgc.edu
STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER
The Student Success Center houses the tutoring center, which is available to all FGC students on a walk-in basis and is led by CRLA-certi ed tutors who assist students in a variety of subjects that vary by semester. In addition to in-person guidance, online tutors are available 24/7 via tutor.com. Also within the Student Success Center is TRiO SSS, which helps rst generation, incomeeligible and accessibility students attend and graduate from FGC. Funded by the federal government, TRiO programs provide support, services, and resources to nearly one million students nationwide through personal student success coaches, tutoring, transfer assistance, nancial literacy, peer mentorship and more.
Student Success Center Phone: 386-754-4437
STUDENT LIFE & RESIDENCE HALL
While education is the focal point of the college experience, it’s not the sole aspect. Throughout the year, students can participate in a broad range of activities and events both on and o -campus including free FGC basketball and volleyball games at the Howard Center; multicultural events like those celebrating Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Day and Lunar New Year, as well as seasonal o erings like the spring ing and fall fest. Smallerscale activities also occur each month like tie-dye Tuesdays, paint pouring classes, drive-in movies and Wolf Wednesdays, which encourage school spirit on campus.
“We also o er activities for the students to participate in online, whether it’s online scavenger hunts or us sending out DIY kits for the students who sign up for them,” said Amy Dekle, the Director of Student Life & Residence Hall.
In addition to scheduled events and activities, students have the option of joining a club, participating in student government and having access to the student center, which features pool tables, ping pong tables, dart boards, computer gaming and more.
Students seeking a more traditional college experience also have the option to live on campus during the spring and fall semesters at Granger Hall. Though on-campus housing is available to any student, the residence hall is closed during major holiday breaks and for the summer semester.
Student & Resident Life Phone: 386-754-4317 Email: amy.dekle@fgc.edu
GATEWAY GRILLE
Put down the ramen! FGC students, faculty and sta have access to the on-campus culinary expertise of the Gateway Grille. Recently subcontracted under the leadership of Le Cordon Bleu graduate Jason Thomas, the Gateway Grille, which is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., o ers a diverse breakfast and lunch menu complete with vegetarian and veganfriendly options; full-scale catering for both on and o -campus events and recently welcomed the addition of a full-service co ee shop. Open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Lobo Co ee Company patrons can get their java x with a lineup of iced co ees, espressos and lattes or a boost of refreshment with an assortment of frozen drinks and smoothies.
CAREER SERVICES
Students interested in career exploration, planning their career path or looking for assistance in applying to a position in their chosen eld also have FGC’s Career Services Center at their ngertips.
“My o ce helps prepare résumés, we help with cover letters, we also do mock interviews in the o ce as well if that is something that’s needed,” said Julie Cannon, the Director of Dual Enrollment and Career Services.
Every semester, Cannon and her team organize the career fair and make career presentations in multiple classrooms to bring awareness to everything that’s o ered in her department. In addition to receiving one-on-one help at the Career Services Center, students also have access to the Career Coach software, which can help them choose a career that’s right for them, connect to available jobs through Indeed or build their résumé. What’s more, Career Services is located in Building 14 with several other essential departments so students can nd the answers they’re looking for all at once.
“We’re all right here together: my o ce and then, of course, there’s dual enrollment as well and then we have our advisors right next door and then we have our nancial aid in this building as well so we’re kind of all here to make sure that they have an answer when they leave or some direction when they go to leave,” she said.
www.fgc.edu • (386) 752-1822 149 SE College Pl., Lake City, FL 32025
