Obituary of Loyce Baker Lewis

"Servant of the Lord, Well Done" Loyce Baker Lewis was born February 21, 1922 in Buckingham County to the late Lynn and Mary (Susie) Brown Johnson. She was reared in a strong Christian and loving home where hard work was no stranger. Loyce attended school in Buckingham County. Under the ministry of Rev. Stephen J. Ellis, she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and joined Zion Baptist Church. Loyce was very active in her mission of working for the Lord. She started off by serving with the youth and singing on the Senior Choir. God gave her the vision in 1951 to start the first youth revival, junior missionary and junior ushers ministry at Zion Baptist Church. She served on the Senior Missionary, Senior Usher and the Hospitality Ministries for many years, even serving as president on all of them. She was also active with Reed Rock Baptist Church Choir. In 1944 she married Milton Baker, they had three girls, Laura Susan, Priscilla Lane, and Wilma Maxine. She reared her cousin's three sons, Leonard, Edward and Bernard Green and one goddaughter, Pamela Trent Venable. Prior to moving to Cumberland, Loyce was employed as a domestic worker. In 1956, they moved to Cumberland County to open a restaurant, formally known as Booker's. She and Milton then moved down the road and opened Baker's Diner. She ran the diner while Milton drove a truck long distance. After twenty-one years, Baker's Diner was closed and she went to work for Community Action and then to Cumberland County Extension Service. While working in the community, she got to meet so many families in the surrounding counties. Loyce truly enjoyed the jobs because she was able to share everything she knew with others. The families she met were so loving and appreciative that she developed the name "Ma Baker". In 1990, Loyce married Oscar Lewis. They enjoyed traveling, going out to eat, visiting family and friends and helping out with the grandchildren. (It made them feel young) When God allowed Loyce to retire, she wanted to do things, to help others and to be active. She was involved in walking groups, exercising groups, line dancing clubs, Senior Citizens Bowling League, nursing home volunteer, C-PAC Handicap Sluggers, member of The Unlimited Six and Club XXV, assisting the Fire Department and Rescue Squad by donating quilts. She really enjoyed making quilts and made sure she could give as many as she could to all of her family members and friends. On October 29, 2015, Loyce was called from work to rest. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Milton Baker and Oscar Lewis; one daughter, Priscilla; five siblings, Hubert, Edward, Frank, Eva, and Hoover; one son-in-law, George Branch. Though there is sadness and a sense of loss, it is the spirit of her life that we will forever honor, for Loyce was truly a remarkable and admirable woman. She leaves to cherish loving memories, two daughters, Laura "Sue" Branch and Wilma B. Herndon (Charles); a god-daughter, Pamela Trent Venable; one son-in-law, Sam Harvison; seven grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.