Percy was born to Percy Sr. and Ethel Lee Wilson Baker.
Percy leaves his father; fiancee, Denise Parker, with whom he made his home; two sons, Lawrence Luse Baker and Desmond Baker; three sisters, Mattie Baker, Mary Ann Baker and Mildred Smith; one brother, David Baker; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother; one brother, Lawrence; and one sister, Lela.
Percy was a 1968 graduate of Manual High School, where he sang with the mixed chorus and participated on the men's basketball team. He also attended Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology in 1972 from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, where he played basketball for the Simpson Redmen.
Percy enjoyed cooking, which was cultivated by his first job as a teen with Walkers Catering Service. He later worked for the Peoria Courthouse as a probation officer, and for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, working with at-risk youth and wards of the state.
All the time over a period of 10 years, he was donating service hours to George Washington Carver Community Center. He was later appointed executive director of the center and served in that capacity for 13 years. He initiated the following programs: Toy Shoe Drive, Biddy Basketball, Carver Senior Club, After-School Program, Summer Camp, Head Start Program, Cocaine Anonymous, Turbo Kick, IRS Tax Counseling Project and the Kings of Court. His total service to Carver accumulated 32 years.
His work as an advocate and volunteer, going into the community, led to his appointment as the upcoming volunteer chapter director for the African-American Task Force for the Gift of Hope.
Percy was a member of Heavens View Christian Fellowship Church, where he sang with the Men of Vision.
He possessed a deep devotion to the public and was active in the community, serving on many committees. Mr. Baker was a past president and current board member of the AmerenCILCO Customer Advisory Council. He served on the council for 13 years. He also served on the Senior Citizens Commission for three years and participated on the ICC Minority Recruitment & Retention Committee.
Percy dedicated his life to helping others and was recognized by the many awards and honors he was given. Some of those were 2008 Illinois Central College Role Model Award, 2008 National Association of Social Workers Public Citizen of the Year Award, 2007 Community Outreach Award, 2007 Peoria Branch NAACP Civil Rights Award, 2004 Wilson Lodge #24 Men of Vision Leadership Award, 2002 George Washington Carver Community Center Appreciation Award, 2001 Martin Luther King Jr. Honoree Award for Continued Community Service, 2001 Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award for Community Service, 2000 DCFS One Church, One Child Award for Outstanding Service to Inner City Youth, 1999 Sigma Gamma Rho Image Award for Building a Better Community, 1988 JC Penny Golden Rule Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service, and 1997 Unshackled Annual Impact Award. In 1995, he was inducted into the Afro Hall of Fame Museum.
Percy enjoyed coaching youth at Father Sweeney School, assisting with the Gus Macker and lending his talents as an MC to the River City Soul Fest, and the Gospel Jubilee.
As a speaker in the school system, he was always willing and available to speak to Peoria's youth to encourage them to stay on the right path. Percy created and was commentator of the B Word, a talk radio program which dealt with current issues affecting the African-American community in Peoria.
He became an advocate of organ donation, taking speaking engagements to stress its importance to area youth and the African-American community.
His legacy will live on as bone marrow and other organs have been donated to save the lives of 65 others.
Published in the Peoria Journal Star on 10/29/2008
Percy leaves his father; fiancee, Denise Parker, with whom he made his home; two sons, Lawrence Luse Baker and Desmond Baker; three sisters, Mattie Baker, Mary Ann Baker and Mildred Smith; one brother, David Baker; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother; one brother, Lawrence; and one sister, Lela.
Percy was a 1968 graduate of Manual High School, where he sang with the mixed chorus and participated on the men's basketball team. He also attended Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology in 1972 from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, where he played basketball for the Simpson Redmen.
Percy enjoyed cooking, which was cultivated by his first job as a teen with Walkers Catering Service. He later worked for the Peoria Courthouse as a probation officer, and for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, working with at-risk youth and wards of the state.
All the time over a period of 10 years, he was donating service hours to George Washington Carver Community Center. He was later appointed executive director of the center and served in that capacity for 13 years. He initiated the following programs: Toy Shoe Drive, Biddy Basketball, Carver Senior Club, After-School Program, Summer Camp, Head Start Program, Cocaine Anonymous, Turbo Kick, IRS Tax Counseling Project and the Kings of Court. His total service to Carver accumulated 32 years.
His work as an advocate and volunteer, going into the community, led to his appointment as the upcoming volunteer chapter director for the African-American Task Force for the Gift of Hope.
Percy was a member of Heavens View Christian Fellowship Church, where he sang with the Men of Vision.
He possessed a deep devotion to the public and was active in the community, serving on many committees. Mr. Baker was a past president and current board member of the AmerenCILCO Customer Advisory Council. He served on the council for 13 years. He also served on the Senior Citizens Commission for three years and participated on the ICC Minority Recruitment & Retention Committee.
Percy dedicated his life to helping others and was recognized by the many awards and honors he was given. Some of those were 2008 Illinois Central College Role Model Award, 2008 National Association of Social Workers Public Citizen of the Year Award, 2007 Community Outreach Award, 2007 Peoria Branch NAACP Civil Rights Award, 2004 Wilson Lodge #24 Men of Vision Leadership Award, 2002 George Washington Carver Community Center Appreciation Award, 2001 Martin Luther King Jr. Honoree Award for Continued Community Service, 2001 Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award for Community Service, 2000 DCFS One Church, One Child Award for Outstanding Service to Inner City Youth, 1999 Sigma Gamma Rho Image Award for Building a Better Community, 1988 JC Penny Golden Rule Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service, and 1997 Unshackled Annual Impact Award. In 1995, he was inducted into the Afro Hall of Fame Museum.
Percy enjoyed coaching youth at Father Sweeney School, assisting with the Gus Macker and lending his talents as an MC to the River City Soul Fest, and the Gospel Jubilee.
As a speaker in the school system, he was always willing and available to speak to Peoria's youth to encourage them to stay on the right path. Percy created and was commentator of the B Word, a talk radio program which dealt with current issues affecting the African-American community in Peoria.
He became an advocate of organ donation, taking speaking engagements to stress its importance to area youth and the African-American community.
His legacy will live on as bone marrow and other organs have been donated to save the lives of 65 others.
Published in the Peoria Journal Star on 10/29/2008
Percy was born to Percy Sr. and Ethel Lee Wilson Baker.
Percy leaves his father; fiancee, Denise Parker, with whom he made his home; two sons, Lawrence Luse Baker and Desmond Baker; three sisters, Mattie Baker, Mary Ann Baker and Mildred Smith; one brother, David Baker; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother; one brother, Lawrence; and one sister, Lela.
Percy was a 1968 graduate of Manual High School, where he sang with the mixed chorus and participated on the men's basketball team. He also attended Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology in 1972 from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, where he played basketball for the Simpson Redmen.
Percy enjoyed cooking, which was cultivated by his first job as a teen with Walkers Catering Service. He later worked for the Peoria Courthouse as a probation officer, and for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, working with at-risk youth and wards of the state.
All the time over a period of 10 years, he was donating service hours to George Washington Carver Community Center. He was later appointed executive director of the center and served in that capacity for 13 years. He initiated the following programs: Toy Shoe Drive, Biddy Basketball, Carver Senior Club, After-School Program, Summer Camp, Head Start Program, Cocaine Anonymous, Turbo Kick, IRS Tax Counseling Project and the Kings of Court. His total service to Carver accumulated 32 years.
His work as an advocate and volunteer, going into the community, led to his appointment as the upcoming volunteer chapter director for the African-American Task Force for the Gift of Hope.
Percy was a member of Heavens View Christian Fellowship Church, where he sang with the Men of Vision.
He possessed a deep devotion to the public and was active in the community, serving on many committees. Mr. Baker was a past president and current board member of the AmerenCILCO Customer Advisory Council. He served on the council for 13 years. He also served on the Senior Citizens Commission for three years and participated on the ICC Minority Recruitment & Retention Committee.
Percy dedicated his life to helping others and was recognized by the many awards and honors he was given. Some of those were 2008 Illinois Central College Role Model Award, 2008 National Association of Social Workers Public Citizen of the Year Award, 2007 Community Outreach Award, 2007 Peoria Branch NAACP Civil Rights Award, 2004 Wilson Lodge #24 Men of Vision Leadership Award, 2002 George Washington Carver Community Center Appreciation Award, 2001 Martin Luther King Jr. Honoree Award for Continued Community Service, 2001 Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award for Community Service, 2000 DCFS One Church, One Child Award for Outstanding Service to Inner City Youth, 1999 Sigma Gamma Rho Image Award for Building a Better Community, 1988 JC Penny Golden Rule Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service, and 1997 Unshackled Annual Impact Award. In 1995, he was inducted into the Afro Hall of Fame Museum.
Percy enjoyed coaching youth at Father Sweeney School, assisting with the Gus Macker and lending his talents as an MC to the River City Soul Fest, and the Gospel Jubilee.
As a speaker in the school system, he was always willing and available to speak to Peoria's youth to encourage them to stay on the right path. Percy created and was commentator of the B Word, a talk radio program which dealt with current issues affecting the African-American community in Peoria.
He became an advocate of organ donation, taking speaking engagements to stress its importance to area youth and the African-American community.
His legacy will live on as bone marrow and other organs have been donated to save the lives of 65 others.
Published in the Peoria Journal Star on 10/29/2008
Percy leaves his father; fiancee, Denise Parker, with whom he made his home; two sons, Lawrence Luse Baker and Desmond Baker; three sisters, Mattie Baker, Mary Ann Baker and Mildred Smith; one brother, David Baker; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother; one brother, Lawrence; and one sister, Lela.
Percy was a 1968 graduate of Manual High School, where he sang with the mixed chorus and participated on the men's basketball team. He also attended Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology in 1972 from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, where he played basketball for the Simpson Redmen.
Percy enjoyed cooking, which was cultivated by his first job as a teen with Walkers Catering Service. He later worked for the Peoria Courthouse as a probation officer, and for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, working with at-risk youth and wards of the state.
All the time over a period of 10 years, he was donating service hours to George Washington Carver Community Center. He was later appointed executive director of the center and served in that capacity for 13 years. He initiated the following programs: Toy Shoe Drive, Biddy Basketball, Carver Senior Club, After-School Program, Summer Camp, Head Start Program, Cocaine Anonymous, Turbo Kick, IRS Tax Counseling Project and the Kings of Court. His total service to Carver accumulated 32 years.
His work as an advocate and volunteer, going into the community, led to his appointment as the upcoming volunteer chapter director for the African-American Task Force for the Gift of Hope.
Percy was a member of Heavens View Christian Fellowship Church, where he sang with the Men of Vision.
He possessed a deep devotion to the public and was active in the community, serving on many committees. Mr. Baker was a past president and current board member of the AmerenCILCO Customer Advisory Council. He served on the council for 13 years. He also served on the Senior Citizens Commission for three years and participated on the ICC Minority Recruitment & Retention Committee.
Percy dedicated his life to helping others and was recognized by the many awards and honors he was given. Some of those were 2008 Illinois Central College Role Model Award, 2008 National Association of Social Workers Public Citizen of the Year Award, 2007 Community Outreach Award, 2007 Peoria Branch NAACP Civil Rights Award, 2004 Wilson Lodge #24 Men of Vision Leadership Award, 2002 George Washington Carver Community Center Appreciation Award, 2001 Martin Luther King Jr. Honoree Award for Continued Community Service, 2001 Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award for Community Service, 2000 DCFS One Church, One Child Award for Outstanding Service to Inner City Youth, 1999 Sigma Gamma Rho Image Award for Building a Better Community, 1988 JC Penny Golden Rule Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service, and 1997 Unshackled Annual Impact Award. In 1995, he was inducted into the Afro Hall of Fame Museum.
Percy enjoyed coaching youth at Father Sweeney School, assisting with the Gus Macker and lending his talents as an MC to the River City Soul Fest, and the Gospel Jubilee.
As a speaker in the school system, he was always willing and available to speak to Peoria's youth to encourage them to stay on the right path. Percy created and was commentator of the B Word, a talk radio program which dealt with current issues affecting the African-American community in Peoria.
He became an advocate of organ donation, taking speaking engagements to stress its importance to area youth and the African-American community.
His legacy will live on as bone marrow and other organs have been donated to save the lives of 65 others.
Published in the Peoria Journal Star on 10/29/2008
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