Mother Doretha Crowder Baker was born on August 30, 1921 to the late Paul Rufus Crowder and the late Mary Bowman Crowder. She completed her education in Anson County schools.
She was united in holy matrimony to the late Elebie Baker in 1939. The union was blessed with 10 children. Mother Baker spent the majority of her life being a wife, caregiver to her children, and a homemaker. For a short time, Mother Baker worked for the Benetta Mills Corporation but found her calling in rearing her children. As lovers of God and music, the Bakers formed the Starlights Gospel Singers, teaching their children to sing and play instruments. The Starlights ministered locally and traveled the East Coast, spreading the Gospel for more than 50 years. Mother Baker was a faithful member of New Meltonville Missionary Baptist Church all of her life.
Mother Baker was a pillar of the community and an advocate of voting rights. As a devoted citizen and longtime resident of Marshville for more than 70 years, Mother Baker worked continuously to promote engagement in local elections. As a result of her commitment and long-time dedication to the Marshville community, Mother Baker was awarded with the Centenarian Recognition Gift by the Town of Marshville on October 11, 2021. She quietly departed this life at the home of her daughter and caregiver on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, blessing her family and friends with 100 years and 9 months of her life.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Elebie Baker; her sons Ernest, Paul, Ellis, Francis, and Calvin Baker; her granddaughter, Vanessa Chambers, whom she raised; sisters, Lillie Mae Collins, Lettie Redfern and Glancy Crowder; and brothers, Willie B. and Marshall Crowder.
Mother Baker’s beautiful life will forever be cherished by her children, Mable Redfern of Marshville, NC, Geretha (David) Parker of Monroe, NC, Edith (Melvin) Crowder of Marshville, NC, Claire (Carl) Marsh of Marshville, NC, and Phillip Baker of Charlotte, NC; grandsons, Marvin Baker and Antonio Baker, whom she raised; her sister, Ollie Mae Little of Trenton, NJ; one brother Henry James Crowder of Charlotte, NC; a host of other grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family that will miss her dearly. Her influence will forever remain in the lives of all who knew her and the five generations of her family she impacted.
The Services to Honor the Life and Legacy of Mother Baker will be at 1:00PM, Wednesday, June 22, 2022, New Meltonville Missionary Baptist Church, 15482 White Store Road, Peachland, North Carolina. Interment will be in the family plot of the Church Cemetery.
Flowers are delivered by the preferred local florist of Smith's Funeral Home | Wadesboro, NC.
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