Johnnie Mae "Demus" Baker

Johnnie Mae Demus Baker was born on February 6, 1948 in Mooringsport, Louisiana to Lillie Phillips Demus and John W. Demus in her paternal grandfather's home. She was the oldest of five children born in 'stair-step' succession. From an early age, she helped her parents raise her younger siblings, learned to grow crops and garden on her parents' farm, cook and manage household chores.

Church and school were central to family life in rural Louisiana. As a young child, she was baptized in the local river and sang at St. John Baptist Church. She attended Reed Spring Elementary, Greenmore Elementary, and Herndon High School before the family relocated to San Francisco, California in 1961.

The Demus family first lived in the historic Fillmore district of San Francisco before settling in the Bayview Hunters Point community. Johnnie attended Benjamin Franklin Junior High, Pelton Junior High and Mission High School. She continued her education at City College of San Francisco and Laney College in Oakland before graduating with an Associate Degree in Applied Science for Legal Office Administration from Heald Business College in 1997.

She worked as a legal secretary for the State of California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General from 1998 until her retirement in 2010. During her tenure at DOJ, she developed close friendships with co-workers who celebrated birthdays, did TaeBo exercises during lunch breaks and started a walking club. This group became known as J-5, short for Justice 5. It became so popular it evolved into J-5+. Johnnie's friendships with this group endure to this day.

Johnnie loved to attend social events and made friends wherever she went. She was a founding member of A New Beginning; a book club started in 1999 with friends Jeanne ("Kyppy") Hogg and Melanie Moore. Their weekly meetings began incorporating other activities, but food was central to their gatherings, where they focused on sisterhood and shared experiences. Other close friends joined the group over the years.

She was also a beloved member of the Friday Faith Fellowship group hosted by her cousin Janie White every first Friday, where her sisters in Christ gathered for food, conversation, and biblical teaching, with a focus on bible verses and bible games. She was particularly good at bible trivia! As a dedicated member of the United Bible Study group, she would dial into their conference line every morning at 5:30 am to play scriptures for attendees from across the country. This group provided her with much spiritual nourishment and support in her later years.

Johnnie was an avid supporter and patron of cultural and community programs supporting San Francisco's African American community. She visited Rafiki Coalition for Health and Wellness regularly where she enjoyed exercise classes, acupuncture, guest speakers, Black History events and celebrations, culminating with the Annual Health Summit. As a long-time resident of the Fillmore/Hayes Valley neighborhood, she enjoyed art, theatrical, and musical performances at the African American Art & Culture Complex, Davies Symphony Hall and other local establishments.

In recent years, the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center became a second home for Johnnie. The senior wellness program enriched her life with a myriad of activities that included field trips, bingo, and counseling services.

Johnnie was affectionately known as Mom, Aunt Johnnie, Johnnie B, Momma Johnnie, Grandma Johnnie, and the family favorite: "The Great Aunt Johnnie!" Her quick wit, charm, and unintentional use of satire made her funny without trying and kept us all laughing. She was a natural comic who could find the joke in anything and create laughter in moments of despair.

The familial responsibilities Johnnie assumed during childhood carried on throughout her life and became a big part of her identity and purpose. In addition to raising her two children, she took care of and supported countless nieces, nephews and cousins alike. She spent significant time with her mom, our beloved Granny as she aged, offering consistent companionship and care. Although her old-school approach was at times stern, it never overshadowed her love language; acts of service. She was always there for family and friends, never forgetting a birthday or anniversary, and always ready to celebrate and fellowship.

Johnnie Mae Demus Baker was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather Elbert "Mac" McBride, sisters Joyce Marie Demus Hawkins and Brenda Lee Demus (Eric), and nephew John Wilson Demus IV. She is survived by daughter Erica J. Brooks (Spencer) of Long Beach, CA, son Dwight David Collins Baker of San Francisco, CA, grandson Spencer Trevor Brooks Jr, her brother John Demus III (Rosie), sister Wanda Faye Demus, brother-in-law Eric Thergesen, and dozens of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins and a host of other close family members and friends.