Emma Baker

Emma was born on June 17, 1927, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to the late Clarence and Rosie Hood. She passed away peacefully on June 12, 2025.

Emma Banks Baker proudly referred to herself as being “the oldest sister” to Lillian Fairbanks. She was affectionately known to many others simply as Aunt Emma.

Emma received her education in Cincinnati Public Schools. She attended East Vocational High School and graduated as a seamstress in the Class of 1945.

Emma married Albert Banks (“Rip”) and together they nurtured and raised their children, Diane and Albert, Jr. Albert (“Rip”) preceded Emma in death.

Emma later married Robert Baker.

Emma accepted Christ at a young age and was baptized at New St. Paul Baptist Church. She later became a member of the Church of the Living God, C.W.F.F. Temple #51, where she faithfully served on the usher board for many years, including several as its president.

In the late 1970’s Emma moved her church membership to Southern Baptist Church. She served faithfully in many ministries including the Early Morning Ushers, Kitchen Ministry, Drop In Center Soup Kitchen Ministry, and Parking Lot Security. Emma self-appointed herself to be a ministry of one, assigned to clear trash from the church grounds each Sunday before the 11 o’clock worship service. The church honored her by awarding the one person ministry, Emma Baker, a plaque acknowledging her dedication to that service.

Emma was dedicated to giving of her time and finances to the church where she worshiped and served the Lord. For years, Emma worshiped at her home church, Southern Baptist, and her original home church, New St. Paul Baptist where her nephew, Rev. Donald C. Fairbanks, was the pastor.

Emma was truly an original. She was an Independent Black Woman long before the term became a cliché. Emma was hard-working, self-sufficient, responsible, sincere, determined, dedicated, punctual, matter of fact, and true. What you saw was what you got… What she said is what she meant, and what she meant is what she said. Emma was a superwoman whose secret power was resilience. Her life’s mantra toward projects and tasks must have been: Just do it, now, willingly or not at all.

This describes the person everyone knew to be Lillian’s Big Sister, Mama, Granny  B, Mrs. Banks or Mrs. Baker, and Aunt Emma. She was truly one of a kind.

Over her lifetime, Emma had a variety of jobs. She cashiered at her Daddy’s corner store. She was a waitress and a pie chef at a neighborhood restaurant and a Will Call clerk at Bond’s Men’s Clothing Store. At long last, Emma retired from University of      Cincinnati’s Environmental Services and then began to work at   being happily retired!

Retirement allowed Emma the opportunity to enjoy traveling. She began to travel with her friends and family around the US, (including Alaska) and took several cruises to the islands. During retirement, Emma also had time to share her love for cooking by serving Monday night dinner and dessert to the little family gang affectionately referred to as the OLC (Old Lady’s Club). We ate good, shared laughs, recalled fond memories of the old days and planned for our next shopping trip!

Emma was a long time resident of Bond Hill. She resided in the same house from more than 59 years. Neighbors knew her from chatting with her as she worked in her manicured yard or from observing her as she made her daily walks up to Swifton or over to the Norwood Plaza (each almost a 4 mile round-trip).

According to Emma, she lived a good, fulfilling life. At 97 years old, a Coca-Cola with a straw, barbecue chips and jellybeans were all she needed to be happy.

Her legacy will endure in the memories and hearts of the five generations she helped create while living on this earth. Additionally, countless nieces, nephews, and cousins will continue to experience the joy of bonding and fellowship at the Hood/Brown Family Reunions, a tradition established by Emma Hood, Lillian Hood, and Harry Patterson in 1980 and still going strong today.

Emma will truly be missed by all of us who loved her, but we must freely let her go from labor to rest until the time the dead in Christ shall rise (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

To cherish her memory, Emma leaves behind her dear and devoted sister Lillian Fairbanks, her children, Diane Smith and Albert and Pamela Banks; her grandchildren: Keith Smith (Denise), Lamont Smith, Dannatis Banks, Loren Banks; her great grandchildren: Camille Smith, Brooklyn Smith, Davin Ferrera, Cameron Smith, Sydney Smith, Simone Smith; and her six great grandchildren; a host of dear cousins; nieces and nephews near and far; and a very special friend Rebekah Taylor (Beck Beck, Thank you!).

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