Fannie Baker

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” 

- Ecclesiastes 3:1

A TIME TO BE BORN

Fannie Mae Gant-Baker was born December 18, 1932, in Laurel, MS. She was the second of nine children of the proud and loving parents, Henryand Rebecca Gant.

A TIME TO GROW

Fannie accepted Christ at an early age under the leadership of Rev. Green at The Church of God in Christ. She later became one of the founding members of St. John Missionary Baptist Church when Rev. Odell Thompson came to the Manningdale community to organize the church. Fannie was the oldest member of St. John M.B. Church under the leadership of Rev. Herbert Brooks, Jr. She had remained a faithful member until the COVID-19 pandemic would not allow her to attend service.

Fannie received her education in the Joliet Public Schools. Fannie’s love for bowling led her to join many bowling leagues and become a mom or best friend to many. She would travel near and far with her entourage, Irene Green, Shirley McCullough and Lula Jones, to bowl in many tournaments. Fannie worked at Sunny Hill Nursing Home for many years. She also worked at Uniroyal Inc.; Caterpillar and Salem Village Nursing and Rehab. She was loved by many of her co-workers.

A TIME TO PLAN AND A TIME TO PLUCK UP 

THAT WHICH IS PLANTED

Fannie was a devoted mother and homemaker who took great care of her children and grandchildren. Not only was her last name Baker, she was a baker par excellence. On holidays, every household on her block received a cake and cookie gift box. She also baked for numerous families during the holidays. Fannie loved sharing her baking with everyone. Her home was never void of a pound cake, sock-it-to-me cake, sweet potato pie or butter cookies, which she never could make enough of. Everyone would order her Better Than Sex cake just to see if it truly held up to its namesake, which gave her great joy. Fannie also served as a senior leader over the culinary ministry at St. John M.B. Church. 

Fannie touched the lives of many. She was the birth mother of four, but she was known as “Mom” to everyone that ever crossed her path. She always had a smile on her face and a kind word or joke for anyone she talked to.

Fannie would not allow her oldest “grandchildren” to call her grandma because she said she was too young and pretty to be a grandma. So her grandchildren had to call her “Mama”. Imagine the confusion when we were at family gatherings and your children said, “mama” and at that time there were five generations of Gant women and we would all answer, “yes”. 

Fannie would always lend a helping hand wherever needed and never looked for anything in return.

A TIME TO LEAVE

Fannie was the proud and loving mother of Barbara “Patsy” White of Hazel Crest, IL; Carol Lane, Arthur (Jeanette), and Kenneth Baker, all of Joliet, IL. She was the loving grandmother of Laurie Lane, John Pitts, Terri Lane, Tracy Metcalf, Edwin (Tameka) Lane, Monica Smith, Arthur (Megan) Coble, Andrea Baker, Kenneth Baker, Jr., and Kysus Redmon; great-grandchildren, Kara Tiggs, Krystal Couch, Kyana Tiggs, KaylonCouch, Uriah Bell, Morgan Metcalf, Montel Pitts, Ashley Pitts, Elizabeth Lane, Destiny Coble-Baker, Lamiya Coble-Baker, Nisa Theard, Chardonnay Neal, Tre Neal, Jessie White; Shawn, Bre’Lyn, Meleya, Journey, and Jan’net Coble; and 18 great-great grandchildren. 

Fannie’s circle of love extended to her sister, Mary Smith of Elk Grove, CA; and two brothers, James “Tommy” and LaVern “Ray” Gant both of Joliet, IL; a special cousin, Betty McCollough; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins; best friends, Irene Green and Shirley McCollough; her bowling team members, her St. John church family, and many dear and loving friends that crossed her path during her life span. Fannie never met a stranger. Fannie’s favorite saying was, “You’ll love that!”

A TIME TO DIE

Fannie was preceded in death by her parents, Henry (1956) and Rebecca (2006) Gant; three brothers, William (1988), Quinton (2009), and Jimmy Dale (2014) Gant; two sisters, Rachel Gant (infancy), Dorsey Mae Moore (2005); three aunts, Mary Morey (1996), Ola Simpson (2005), and Lola Green (2019); nieces, Jackie Gant (2001) and Dollie Moore (2017); son-in-love, Rev. A. Harold White (2018); three sisters-in-love, Mary Helen Gant (1997); Adarine Gant (1998), and Janette Gant (2001); brother-in-love, James Moore (2017); and best friend, Helen Newell (2013).

On Sunday, October 25, 2020, the Lord freed Fannie’s spirit from her body. But her love will continue to grow through her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, family, and friends.

“To be absent from the body is to be in the presence of the Lord.”

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