Nettie Levon Baker

Mrs. Nettie L. BAKER of Dallas, TX, passed away from this earthly life and went home to be with the Lord on April 25, 2025. She was born in Campti, Louisiana, to her parents, the late Wilmer Earl Braden and Inez Thompson Braden, with four children being born to this union. She accepted Christ at an early age at Wesley United Methodist Church in Mansfield, Louisiana.
She attended Booker T. Washington High School (Shreveport, LA) in 1960 and graduated from Southern Methodist University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1964. In 1980, she obtained her (MLS) Master of Library Science from Texas Woman's University. After graduating college, Nettie taught 9th, 10th, and 11th Grade English classes and also served as Head Librarian for two and a half years at Wesley Ray High School in Angie, Louisiana. In 1969, she began her career at the University of Dallas as the cataloging librarian. During her 49 years of service, she also held the positions of Associate Director, Director, and Associate Dean. Throughout her career at UDallas, she worked tirelessly, innovatively, generously, and lovingly to advance the education of her students, promote shared governance through her many years on the faculty senate and other institutional committees, while encouraging excellence at other universities during the years serving on SACSCOC teams.
Nettie was a friend to everyone, quick with a kind word, and always willing to go the extra mile to help her students and others. In 1964, she met and married Charles A. Baker, and to their union, their daughter Deartrus and son Charles Jr. were born. They were married for 56 years and 11 months when the Lord called him home. During her lifetime, she was a member of Bon Air for more than 48 years; from 1994-2007, she was a member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities. A very proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority since 1966, she served as Chair of the SWDCA Nomination Committee 2011-12 and as Co-Chair of SWDCA Delta Dears Caring Bridge 2022-23
She is preceded in death by her parents and brother, Almond Breden.
Those left to mourn her passing and remember her life of service are her daughter, Deartrus-Lancaster, TX, and her son, Charles Jr.-Dallas; granddaughter Sha'Ravia and great-grandson Kyrie-Dallas; her sister, Sandra Wright-Richmond, IN; brother, Charles Braden-San Diego, CA; sisters-in-law, Vera Johnson-Jonesboro, LA, Cheryl Gray-Minneapolis, MN; and brother-in-law, Jerry Baker-Hodge, LA. Bonus granddaughters, Krystal, Shardae, Alexis, and Jazmin, along with a host of nieces, nephews, neighbors, former colleagues, and her church family.