Grace Baker Minor

Grace Baker Minor, age 78, passed away peacefully under Hospice Care at home on Thursday, October 24, surrounded by her family and loved ones. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 26 at 3:00 p.m. at Lakeside Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, NC with a reception immediately following at Benvenue Country Club. Grace was born June 29, 1935 in Washington, DC to the late Marjorie Williamson and Harry Kenneth Baker. Her father was a decorated World War II veteran and US diplomat. Her late grandparents were Grace Pierce and Bailey Finley Williamson of Raleigh, NC. Grace grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland outside of Washington, DC. She attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and then studied early childhood education at the University of Maryland, where she met her husband, Bob. As a girl, Grace spent many happy summers with her grandparents at their home in Florida where her love of nature and classical music began. After moving to Rocky Mount, she pursued her passion for helping children, serving as Preschool Teacher and Director for 23 years at Englewood United Methodist Church and Lakeside Baptist Church. For many years she wrote an advice column for the Rocky Mount Evening Telegram newspaper, “Loving and Living with the Preschool Child.” Following her teaching career, she was active for more than a decade as the Hope Counselor in Pediatrics at Nash General Hospital, where she eased the fears and anxieties of many sick children and comforted their parents. Grace was the family matriarch and hostess. Whether welcoming family for summers on the Outer Banks or making sure there were no empty places at her table during holidays, her home was always a warm and welcoming place for everyone. She was interested in every human being and a friend to all, regardless of race, creed or color. She knew how to make each person feel like the most important person in the room. Grace will be remembered for her kindness and empathy, her compassion, her laughter, and her love of family and friends from around the world. She was passionate about her faith, nature and especially cats and Canada Geese, children and childhood development, and helping the sick and suffering. She is survived by her sister, Betsy Baker Ellis and husband, William Leigh Ellis of Bronxville, NY; her brother-in-law, John Deviny Carrico and his wife, Margriet Vander Heyden; her son, Robert Lloyd Minor, Jr. and his wife, Sandra Jane McCurdy-Minor of Belvidere, IL; her son, Richard Gabriel Minor and wife Linda Trees Minor of Chapel Hill, NC; and her daughter Wendy Minor Graham and her husband, Geoffrey Dyer Graham of Atlanta, Georgia; nine grandchildren, Sarah, Elizabeth, Ryan, Brandon, George, William, James, Alexander and Rhea; many nieces and nephews; her dear and loyal friend, Shirley Ann Lucas; and her two white cats Jack and Jill. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Robert Lloyd (Bob) Minor, her son Kenneth Embrey Minor, and her sister, Alice Baker Carrico. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Boys Girls Clubs of Nash/Edgecombe Counties, P.O, Box 1622, 301 South Church Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27802. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 North Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com. Visitation Location Not Available Saturday 10/26, 4:00 pm Service Lakeside Baptist Church 1501 Sunset Avenue Rocky Mount, NC 27804 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-446-0126 --> | Saturday 10/26, 3:00 pm