Ishmal Carnell Baker Sr.

Ishmal Carnell Baker Sr., age 80, of Madisonville, entered into his eternal rest at 2:57 p.m. Thursday May 27, 2021 at Baptist Health Madisonville with his family by his side.  Born March 10, 1941 in Earlington, he was the son of the late Alex Baker and Vandalia Marie Rodman Baker.  He was a faithful member of Eastview Missionary Baptist Church in Madisonville, a retired coal miner with Island Creek Coal Company and a member of the United Mine Workers of America.  He attended trade school to be a steel worker and worked as an industrial pipe fitting worker for Bush Construction in Nashville and Alabama.  He played basketball for 10 years with the fabulous Harlem Magicians enterprise and attended African American historic Rosenwald High School in Madisonville where he played basketball for 4 years with the Rosenwald Tigers and played music in the band (trumpet and alto horn), and sang in the chorus.  He was inducted into the Hopkins County Athletic Hall of Fame on September 8, 2006.  He was a 33 degree mason and a member of Ninths Temple, Merriweather 42, Royal Arts, and Carthel of the Shrine Temple #118.  He sang with the Golden Tones of Madisonville.  He also was preceded in death by six brothers Alexander Baker, Robert Baker, Livingston Baker, Theodist Baker, Arless Baker, and Arthur Baker; and by five sisters Winola Mimms, Rothan Baker, Arnetta Hughes, Vatral Slaughters, and Modestine Glenn.  He leaves to cherish his loving memories his loving and devoted wife of 60 years Beverly D. Baker of Madisonville; two sons Ishmal (Janice) Baker Jr. and Steven Baker both of Madisonville; three daughters Tonja Simms and Stephanie Baker both of Madisonville, and Kathy (Lionel) Reid of Atlanta,Georgia; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  His life will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday June 2 at Eastview Missionary Baptist Church.  Pastor LaBarron F. McAdoo Jr. will officiate.  Burial will be in Browder Cemetery in Hopkins County with a balloon release to follow.  Visitation and wake services will be from 11:00 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the church.  Masks are required upon entry.  Elliott Mortuary in Madisonville is in charge of his arrangements and where you can share your condolences at www.elliottmortuarycares.com.

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