The Life

Ophelia Baker was born to the late Sarah and Joe Danson on April 21, 1932, in West Bay, Florida.

Ms. Baker received Christ at an early age at McQueen's Temple First Born Church in Ebro, Florida.  One of her favorite scriptures was Matthew 26:41; she would say, "Watch as well as pray."

She moved to Panama City, Florida in 1954, and was a resident for approximately 20 years, and worked at Tyndall, AFB, as well as a crossing guard for the Bay County School System.  She moved to Miami, Florida in 1974, where she resided for approximately 50 years.  She retired as a school bus driver after 20 years with the Dade County School System.

After her retirement, she did what she loved best: fishing, gardening, and a small home-based business.  She was an avid fisherman, entrepreneur, and fashionista.  She had a variety of fruit trees and plants in her yard, and she loved talking about her mangos, avocados and Ackee that she grew in her yard, among other fruit trees and plants.

Ms. Baker was a very strong woman, and she personified leadership.  She would often advise others to "be a leader."   She would regularly advise on the importance of consuming healthy herbs and spices.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Sarah Danson, four siblings, R.J. McKinnon, Willie Rogers, Beatrice Cook, and two daughters, Cassandra G. Alexander and Maketha D. Clark.

The Legacy

She leaves to cherish her memories, four children: Sarah Clark of Atlanta, GA., Ellen Polite of Panama City, FL, Bonita Taylor and Larry Lemay, Jr., both of Miami Gardens, FL.; eleven grandchildren:  Walter L. Clark, Sr. (Dara), Gene A. Smith (Vanessa), Althea D. Smith, Reta Parker, Sherry Cooper, Jarmaine Akinji (Slata), Sheneka Alexander, Larry Curtis Lemay, III, Tiffany Alexander, TCarol Hunt, Cassiopeia Daly, and a host of other relatives and friends.