Minnie Whatley Miller

Minnie (Baxter) Whatley Miller transitioned to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 30, 2022, at Summa Hospital after a short illness. She was born to the union of Mack and Irene Baxter (Palmer) in Webb, Mississippi on December 17, 1942. The family moved to Akron, Ohio when she was 2 years old in 1944.

She was preceded in death by father, Mack Baxter III; grandparents, Mack and Annie Baxter, Nathaniel and Maggie Moore; infant son, Kevin and infant sister, Shelley Ann and infant brother, Anthony “Pee Wee”; uncles, Joe Lee and Ernest Baxter and Otis B., Nathaniel and John Moore.

Minnie accepted Jesus as a young girl. She loved her family and people. She was a former member of New Trinity Baptist Church, Community Fellowship Chapel, and World Harvest Christian Church. While living in Maryland, she also attended Kent Baptist Church.

Minnie graduated in 1961 from Akron South High School, received her B.A in social work and master’s in public administration from the University of Akron. She resided in Dover, Delaware where she pursued studies in Mortuary Science. Minnie worked for the American Cancer Society in Akron, recruiting African American physicians for programs in churches and community centers regarding health and wellness among minorities. She also worked at the National Caucus Center on Black Aged in Washington, DC, traveling to other states as a representative.

Minnie is survived by her son, Anthony (A’ricka) of Akron, Ohio and daughter, Adrienne Smith of Columbus, Ohio; mother, Irene Baxter Palmer of Akron; brother, Atty. Mack (Gina) Baxter of Schaumburg, IL; sisters, Dr. Beulah (Dave) Hamilton, Belinda Baxter and Joanne Small, all of Akron. She leaves, granddaughters, Tiffany Brown, Brittany Whatley of Akron and Tiana Whatley of Columbus, Ohio; grandson, Anthony “Boo” Whatley of Fayetteville, NC and Antonio and Jamison Whatley of TN. Her great-grandchildren, Timyah Brown and Ai’ziah Brown-Foster; her beloved aunties, Minnie Jackson, Maggie Colvin both of Akron, Elizabeth Washington of Chicago and Mary Johnson of Detroit, MI; many special and close sister\friends, Gloria Holmes, Gloria Davis, Ruby Baddley, Mary Antenorra, Sandra Clark and all of our Canton, Ohio and Chicago families. Lifelong friends, Wilson Trevillion, James Johnson and Kent Baptist Church family and the father of her children, Henry Whatley; many nieces and nephews and a host of cousins and friends.

Services will be held Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 11:00am at Wilkinson Funeral Home, 1158 S. Arlington St. Akron, OH 44306 . Friends may visit from 10:00am until the time of service. Condolences may be sent to Irene Palmer, 750 Mull Ave, Apt 6H, Akron, Ohio 44313 or Dr. Beulah Hamilton, 1391 Chippewa Ave., Akron, Ohio 44305. To leave a message for the family visit www.wilkinsonfuneral.com