Mrs. Brenda Louise Baker

Today we celebrate the life of a very dynamic and beautiful soul, Brenda Louise (Jones) Baker. Brenda, a name associated with valiant and courageous individuals with warrior-like qualities, was born on Friday, August 23,1957 to Ernest Jr. and Dolores Jones. She was the second of seven children born to this union. Fierce yet gentle, Brenda was nicknamed “sugar” as a child. She was strong-willed and determined at a very young age, deemed the “go-to” of her family. One of her favorite childhood memories was watching the Jackson 5ive cartoon on Saturday mornings with her siblings. By way of her father’s teachings of the Bible, Brenda accepted God into her life at an early age. She was a member of Jesus Christ Temple of Deliverance in the 1980s -1990s under the leadership of her aunt-in-law, Pastor Edna Marie Lacy. In the mid-2000s, she became a member of Triumph Church under the leadership of Pastor Solomon Kinloch. In recent years, Brenda and her husband, Anthony, enjoyed spending time together watching the Triumph Church Sunday Worship Broadcast service. Though Brenda had been following God since she was young, it was not until the age 43 that she made the conscious decision to get baptized. Her favorite scripture was Psalm 23, one she would recite often. Brenda received her education from Detroit Public Schools. After attending Pershing High School, she went to beauty school and studied the advanced application of certain areas of cosmetology. She also took several classes through Wayne County Community College. Brenda had a natural ability to lead and nurture. In addition to being a proud homemaker, her career paths spanned across the restaurant and home health aide industries. She was a manager at Pizza Hut for a number of years, and later worked as a manager for AHS, a home health aide company. This kickstarted a 20+ year career in the home health aide field. She was very compassionate about her clients who had disabilities and special needs. Her clients and staff absolutely adored and valued her. Brenda was always searching for opportunities to build upon her expertise and skill set. She obtained her Certified Nurse Assistant licence in 2004; she held a national CPR/ AED/ First-Aid certificate, and she participated in several advanced trainings such as corporate training and management training for effective leadership and supervision. In 2015, Brenda retired from the home health aide industry and launched a t-shirt business, Louise’s Tees. Brenda met her soul mate, Anthony Baker Sr., in 1973 at Pershing High School. She caught his eye, and this led to many moments of togetherness such as cruises to Belle Isle while listening to Jeffrey Osborne. The two joined hands in matrimony on May 9, 1980. The self-proclaimed “Bonnie and Clyde” were married for 44 years but their love story lasted over half a century. At the heart of their marriage were their children. The two were blessed with six children who they love deeply. Brenda poured her heart and soul into her children. Anthony would often share stories about how natural Brenda was with their children when they were babies, especially how none of them ever had a diaper rash. Education was central to Brenda’s love for her children. She stressed that getting an education was key to “being able to stand on your own two feet.” Though she would not claim this, she was her children’s first teacher. In addition to giving them life lessons grounded in reality, she filled their home with a personal library that contained encyclopedias, books, craft books, and dictionaries. It was also important that her children understood Black history. They recall watching documentaries about historical events and figures such as The Little Rock Nine, the Black Panther Party, and Malcolm X. They will never forget having to watch Roots every year and tv specials about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on MLK Day. If you ever visited the Baker Family Home, you would see Brenda’s pride represented in all six of their high school diplomas and graduation pictures on the mantle of her fireplace. She took great honor in her children’s career paths. Through her devotion and dedication, her children have successful careers, which includes a nurse (Tamara), a hair care expert (Tanthony), a professor, scholar and researcher (April), a founder and communications expert (Kakela), a certified fitness trainer (Anthony Jr.), and a social worker and educator (Tanisha). It is also worthy of noting that all of her six children are business owners. Brenda’s story would be incomplete without mentioning her unwavering love for her thirteen grandchildren and great-grandchild. She was an involved grandmother and had a personal connection with each and every one of them. She inspired many generations through her love and commitment to her family. Affectionately known as “BB”, “Bren”, “Mrs. Baker”, or “Miss Brenda” by family, friends, and neighbors, Brenda had a larger than life personality and she was a people person who had the ability to light up any room she walked in with her positivity and laughter. She was a truth teller, a giver, a visionary, a lover, and a fighter until the very end of her life. She had a keen sense of discernment and could not be fooled. Brenda had a gift for making people laugh. Whether she was nicknaming someone or throwing shade, she had a way of using words that were powerful, colorful, and unique. One example of this is her nicknaming her brother, Ernest III, “sugar lips” when they were younger due to his infatuation with sugar sandwiches. Anyone who knew Brenda, witnessed and loved her humor, and if you really, really knew Brenda, you are likely familiar with the term “nate-thaide.” It was not only Brenda’s humor and wit that made her special. She had a way of inspiring people to work toward their greatest potential. If you came around her feeling defeated or sad, you would more than likely leave feeling positive and empowered. In her pastime, Brenda enjoyed listening to music, sitting on her front porch, playing the numbers, bike riding, getting her hair done, shopping, watching soap operas, going to the casino, and interacting with her “fur baby”, Coco. On December 30, 2024, Brenda made her transition to be with the lord. She passed away peacefully surrounded by family. She is preceded in death by several loved ones, most noteworthy, her beloved mother, Dolores, who passed away only three months ago. She is also preceded in death by her father, Ernest Jr.; her siblings, Clinton and Jennifer, and a host of other relatives, friends, and loved ones. Brenda leaves her legacy behind in her family. She is survived by her husband, Anthony Sr.; her children: Tamara, Tanthony, April (Dominic), Kakela Sr. (David), Anthony Jr., and Tanisha (Reginald); her siblings: Rita, Ernest III, Laura (Kent), and Dale; her grandchildren: Anita, Keonna, Kearah, Emanuel, Ariana, Jeremiah, Alayna, Akyra, Dominic Jr., Anthony III, Kakela Jr., Amir, and Chase; one great grandchild, Alexandria; three aunts: Edna, Mary, and Helen; her fur baby, Coco, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, friends, neighbors, and relatives. Brenda’s loss is deeply felt by her immense family and all those who knew and loved her. Her memory will continue to live on and inspire strength, resilience, and generosity in those whose lives she touched.

Mrs. Brenda Louise Baker

August 23, 1957 - December 30, 2024