Jacqueline Baker

Josephine Welch was born March 18, 1918, the 4th child of the late Joseph & Bessie Welch. In her early years Josephine was educated in New Brunswick, NJ. After spending summers with her mother’s sister Aunt Janine in New York she stayed and attended High School. After graduating Josephine joined the Peace Mission Movement where her spiritual name was Miss Sweet Praise. This name was very fitting as Sweet Praise would love playing the piano and singing spiritual songs. When among friends and family Josephine preferred to be called Jacqueline or Jackie, which is the name she is known by to many. Jackie married Clyde Baker in 1959. She was trained in short hand and worked as a secretary and a domestic engineer. Jackie worked with the Gruber family for many years caring for the family’s children and helping to make their family life comfortable, which brought her much joy. During the course of Jaqueline’s life, she was an eloquent orator blessing many with her poetry recitation's. She enjoyed playing the piano, singing and she was an expert Roller Skater. Jackie attended Ebenezer Baptist Church in New Brunswick, NJ and later Travelers Fellowship Baptist Church in Piscataway, NJ. She also continued to support Circle Mission Church of the Peace Mission Movement and her family there, attending Banquets and helping the Peace Mission Movement however she could. Jackie transitioned on Monday, October 5, 2020. She was predeceased by her parents Joseph & Bessie Welch, 7 siblings, Miss Patience Budd, Albert, Pearl, Florence, Robert, Alberta, Lillian and a beloved niece Christine Elliott. She leaves one sister Kathryn Roach of Somerset, NJ, and a very special great nephew Craig Elliot Jr., whom she appreciated and loved dearly. She also leaves behind nieces and nephews Roland Roach Sr., Charlene (Leon) Vinson, Darlene(Lenny) Branch, Edward (Patricia) Roach, and great niece & nephew’s Craig Sr.(Doris) Elliott, Giselle Rogers, and Rodney Elliott. Also, deeply feeling the passing of Jackie / Sweet Praise and who she delighted in, are her beautiful friends the Gruber family, Alexander Schenk, Stuart Gerson, Miss Etta Loveheart, Adella Collins and Darryl Hamlett. Today we celebrate the life of Jacqueline (Jackie) Baker aka Miss Sweet Praise. Her love, energy, humor and years of dedication to many of us we will carry all of our days. Aunt Jackie / Sweet Praise we will miss you. We will forever be blessed with our interactions with you and the fingerprint you have left on each one of our lives. Special thanks to all who helped to care for Jackie in her later years, whether visiting her in the nursing home, making arrangements for her care, taking her back and forth to the Circle Mission Church in Philadelphia and to the Peace Mission Woodmont Estate in Gladwyne, PA or the many things many did to help Jackie enjoy her later years. We are not able to acknowledge every act of kindness and service, but God knows.

Jacqueline Baker

March 18, 1918 - October 5, 2020