Life Story for Mother Bernice Baker
A Legacy of Love and Strength for Others
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” ~ Philippians 1:21
On June 4, 1940, Bernice Inell Baker (Haggith Baht Ysrael) entered this life as the second child of three children born to John and Odell Kent in Ryland, Alabama.
Bernice’s early years were spent with her devoted parents and siblings in Chicago, Illinois. After moving back to Alabama, she attended Mount Carmel and Council Training.
Bernice was such an artistic person. She enjoyed drawing, dancing, sewing, and watching a good movie, preferably a scary movie. Her sewing skills were second to none. It was nothing for her to sit down at her sewing machine and create a beautiful masterpiece in a few hours. She also loved to dance and also talk about winning dance competitions.
On October 3, 1955, Bernice married James H. Baker, Sr. After becoming a wife and a mother to Mary Bell, they moved to Chicago, Illinois. After having five more babies, they moved the family to Huntsville, Alabama, in 1975 to raise their family and a new addition, Cicely Baker, was added in 1976.
Bernice was a devoted mother and grandmother to her seven children, 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Bernice was very spiritual and loving to all who came into contact with her. Her grandkids remember her loving ways and her motherly instincts when she would rock them to sleep at night.
Her love for the Creator began at Briar Fork CPCA Church, under the leadership of Rev. George Moore, Sr., and then later Rev. Dr. Theodis Acklin,where she served on the Mother Board and sang in the choir many, many years. During a season of devout prayer and biblical and historical studies, Bernice was led to the Hebrew Israelite faith. During this spiritual and cultural transformation, she renewed and dedicated her life to Yahweh and changed her name to “Haggith Baht Ysrael” to reflect her new way of life. This spiritual journey led her to the Hebrew Israelite tabernacle “Biet Miqra Yahweh” (House of the Called-Out Ones) in Huntsville, Alabama.
Bernice/Emah Haggith is preceded in death by her father and mother, John and Odell Kent; Brother, Edward Lee Kent; one grandson, Jelani Baker; and daughter-in-law, Ah’biyah Bayt Ysrael.
Those left to cherish her memories are: a loving sister, Larrine Evans; seven children, Mary Bell, James Baker, Jr./Obadiyah Bayn Ysrael (Ernestine), Denise Baker-Sanders, Sandra Ingram/Ysreallah Baht Ysrael (Howland) Jeffery Baker/Yah’Aziel Bayn Ysrael, Belinda Baker/Athleyah Baht Ysrael, and Cicely Baker, all of Huntsville, Alabama; one uncle, Eddie Lee Lemons of Chicago, IL; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” ~ Philippians 1:21
On June 4, 1940, Bernice Inell Baker (Haggith Baht Ysrael) entered this life as the second child of three children born to John and Odell Kent in Ryland, Alabama.
Bernice’s early years were spent with her devoted parents and siblings in Chicago, Illinois. After moving back to Alabama, she attended Mount Carmel and Council Training.
Bernice was such an artistic person. She enjoyed drawing, dancing, sewing, and watching a good movie, preferably a scary movie. Her sewing skills were second to none. It was nothing for her to sit down at her sewing machine and create a beautiful masterpiece in a few hours. She also loved to dance and also talk about winning dance competitions.
On October 3, 1955, Bernice married James H. Baker, Sr. After becoming a wife and a mother to Mary Bell, they moved to Chicago, Illinois. After having five more babies, they moved the family to Huntsville, Alabama, in 1975 to raise their family and a new addition, Cicely Baker, was added in 1976.
Bernice was a devoted mother and grandmother to her seven children, 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Bernice was very spiritual and loving to all who came into contact with her. Her grandkids remember her loving ways and her motherly instincts when she would rock them to sleep at night.
Her love for the Creator began at Briar Fork CPCA Church, under the leadership of Rev. George Moore, Sr., and then later Rev. Dr. Theodis Acklin,where she served on the Mother Board and sang in the choir many, many years. During a season of devout prayer and biblical and historical studies, Bernice was led to the Hebrew Israelite faith. During this spiritual and cultural transformation, she renewed and dedicated her life to Yahweh and changed her name to “Haggith Baht Ysrael” to reflect her new way of life. This spiritual journey led her to the Hebrew Israelite tabernacle “Biet Miqra Yahweh” (House of the Called-Out Ones) in Huntsville, Alabama.
Bernice/Emah Haggith is preceded in death by her father and mother, John and Odell Kent; Brother, Edward Lee Kent; one grandson, Jelani Baker; and daughter-in-law, Ah’biyah Bayt Ysrael.
Those left to cherish her memories are: a loving sister, Larrine Evans; seven children, Mary Bell, James Baker, Jr./Obadiyah Bayn Ysrael (Ernestine), Denise Baker-Sanders, Sandra Ingram/Ysreallah Baht Ysrael (Howland) Jeffery Baker/Yah’Aziel Bayn Ysrael, Belinda Baker/Athleyah Baht Ysrael, and Cicely Baker, all of Huntsville, Alabama; one uncle, Eddie Lee Lemons of Chicago, IL; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.