Magnolia Ricardo Baker

Magnolia Ricardo Baker entered eternal rest at the age of 78, while sleeping peacefully, on February 10, 2023. She was born on April 28, 1944 and is affectionately known as “Nola”, “Nola Rae”, and “Mimi”,. She was the sister of the now deceased, Marva Mae Ricardo Paul with whom she shared a very close relationship. Nola was the daughter of Washington Whitney Ricardo and Letitia Moton Ricardo. After her Baptism, Nola received her First Communion and Confirmation at St. Jules Catholic Church in Franklin, LA. She remained a woman of Catholic faith and attended St. Maria Goretti Church. During her years at Willow Street High School, Nola served as President of the Student Council, was a member of the Drill Team and the Future Homemakers of America. She subsequently moved to New Orleans and graduated from the “Jewel of Gentilly”, Dillard University, where she sang in Frederick Hall’s Concert Choir. There she met and later married her husband of 57 years, (Wrophas) Kendall Baker who was attending Dillard on a football scholarship. Nola and Kendall were the proud parents of 2 sons, Kendall, endearingly called “Poppa”, who preceded her in death, and Kevin. “Mimi” was loved and cherished by daughters-in-law, Raquel and Maria; grandchildren, Micah, Halie, Noel, Hannah, Camille, and Gabriel, and great grandchildren, Elijah, Aniyah, and Julianna, all of whom were the pride and joy of her life. When visiting their “Mimi”, the grands were welcomed to a warm, loving, and comfortable home which was always decorated in festive colors and accessories befitting the holiday season, whether it was Christmas, Halloween, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, or a Saints victory! On Saints game days, Nola and Kendall hosted or were guests at house parties with family and many of the devoted friends with whom they established, maintained, and nurtured relationships lasting dozens of years. Following a teaching career and retirement from the State of Louisiana Juvenile Court system, Magnolia Baker was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Diversified Health Services, a position she held for 13 years. During that time she enjoyed with family, cruises to Mexico and a European trip to London and Paris, both of which yielded fond lifetime memories. Nola was a beautiful and loving woman who will be missed by all who knew and cherished her. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Memorial Service honoring the life of Ms. Magnolia Ricardo Baker at D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Avenue, New Orleans, La. 70125 on Friday, February 24, 2023 at 1:00 pm. Visitation will begin at 12:00 pm. Interment: Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Arrangements by D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Avenue, New Orleans, La. 70125.