By Paige Gurgainers
Reverend Linda Muriel Cooper-Baker, a life-long resident of Minden, wears many hats including preacher, teacher, musician and a motivational speaker. In fact, she says her “superpower” is the gift of encouragement and motivation.
“It is my prayer that I have been able to encourage and motivate others to achieve their dreams,” said Baker.
Rev. Baker knows all too well about the obstacles and challenges one may face during a lifetime because she has experienced her fair share.
“Life is full of challenges,” Baker explained. “Whether you consider life’s roadblocks as obstacles or challenges, they are a part of the growth process, and that growth process helps you to be strong so that when you reach the goal, you can stand.”
As a 1969 graduate of Webster High School, she became the first African American contestant to participate in the Miss Minden Pageant and won first place in the talent portion of the competition. She went on to attend Grambling State University, where she was selected as “Miss Cover Girl” in 1974.
Adding to her long list of accomplishments, Baker won fourth place in the Metropolitan Opera Regional Auditions in Shreveport and third place in the National Association of Teachers of Singers in Nashville.
She went on to graduate from Grambling with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education and shortly after she began a very successful career educating the youth through music and teaching.
Baker taught from 1974 – 1998 at various schools. She enjoyed a couple years of retirement before the principal of Bethune Middle School in Shreveport convinced her to begin a choral music program. The choir traveled to Dallas where they were awarded first place male chorus, female chorus and mixed chorus. As a result of their performance, Bethune Middle School won the Sweepstake Award for best overall choir and Rev. Baker was presented with the Choral Conductor of the Year Award.
Baker’s accomplishments and awards are too numerous to name.
In 2001, Baker accepted a call to ministry. She went on to earn of Bachelor of Theology Degree from the United Theological Seminary in Monroe where she maintained a 4.0 GPA. She was licensed as a Minister of the Gospel by Rev. B.J. Martin at St. Rest Baptist Church and then received her Deacon’s Ordination in 2013 and her Elder’s Ordination the following year.
Currently, Rev. Baker serves as Pastor of Bracks Chapel CME in Elm Grove. She was also appointed as the 4th Episcopal District Music Coordinator covering Louisiana and Mississippi and served one year on the National Board of Christian Education board during a Unity Summit held in Houston.
What or who inspires a woman like Rev. Baker?
She says, “My mom- simply because she was born into this world with nothing and yet she was able to successfully grow and mature into not only a beautiful woman but an awesome mother.”
Rev. Baker is happily married to Bobby Gene Baker, Sr. Together they have three children and are the very proud grandparents of six and godparents to many.