MEET

Phyllis graduated from Jones County High School, attended Georgia College & State University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Art. Phyllis Tufts Hightower was raised in Jones Co. Gray, Georgia. After graduating from college she made Baldwin County her home for a few years. She later moved to Macon Georgia where she has lived for the past 30 plus years.   Phyllis has been a Registered Art Therapist with the American Art Therapy Association since 1988. She served as the Secretary for the Georgia Art Therapy Association in the early 90’s.

Phyllis started her career in Mental Health after being selected as a Governor’s intern. She completed her Art Therapy Internship, at the Middle Georgia Psycho Educational Center in Macon Georgia, while working with children with Autism and Behavioral disorders.
She started working full time at Central State Hospital where she provided activity and art therapy services to the clients that she served. In 1988 Phyllis became the only full-time Art Therapist for Coliseum Psychiatric Hospital. She was recognized as one of the 25 reasons to choose Coliseum Psychiatric Hospital for care. Also during this time she opened her Art Therapy private practice.

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After leaving Coliseum Psychiatric she Supervised Recreational services for Veterans at the Russell building at the Georgia War Veterans Hospital in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has also provided mental health services at River Edge Behavioral Health.

*After over 30 years of providing mental health services to clients of all ages, Phyllis retired from the State of Georgia in 2016.

Phyllis worked for sixteen years, with incarcerated youthful offenders as a sex offender counselor, adjunct instructor and the only full time Art Therapist working within the Department of Juvenile Justice, office of Behavioral Health. It was during this time that she gained a wealth of knowledge regarding rehabilitation vs. incarceration.

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For many years Phyllis has been fully engaged in community organizations that promote the message that your zip code should not disqualify you from support and services.
Phyllis was also a previous candidate for House District 143.

Phyllis is the author of Ten Keys to avoid debt the Devils Evil Borrowing Trap. She is the owner of PHALL Enterprise LLC, She holds a registered trademark for her clothing line “Black Patriot” urban wear.

Phyllis is a wife a mother, grandmother and an Elder at her church.