Ethel M. Baynham

Mrs. Ethel Mae Baynham was born on October 1, 1942, to Mr. Eugene and Zettie Mae Dean of Memphis, Tennessee. They preceded her. Also preceding is her first born son, John William Baynham II, of Kansas City, Missouri, sisters, Sarah Dean, Evalina Dean, of Memphis, Tennessee, Doris Ann Walker, of Kansas City, Missouri, step-brothers, Eddie Lee Bounds, Eugene Dean Jr., Ivory Dean, Willie James Dean, Memphis Tennessee and W.C. Farmer Jr, of  Kansas City, Missouri.

Ethel went home to be present with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 5, 2024. Ethel comes from a family rooted in knowing the Lord, of Christian Faith and Values. In Memphis, Tennessee, Ethel received the Lord early as a young child and was baptized at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, the family church. Ethel laughed about being baptized in a creek. That's how it was done in those days.

Ethel Mae graduated from Greenwood Elementary and Central High School of the Kansas City, Missouri School District. For many years, Ethel Mae worked at Children's Mercy Hospital. Ethel was a self, motivated hard worker, God fearing, and driven Entrepreneur. Using her gifts and talents she helped her family and the community. Ethel utilized skills to serve as an owner of three soul food restaurants; Sunshine Dining Room, Traffic Way Cafe, and Sugar Bears Restaurant.

On Easter Sunday, March 26, 1967, Ethel Mae Dean and John WM Baynham were united in marriage. To this union: two children were born, first born son, John William Baynham, II affection known as "Bug', and her first born daughter, Marquita Veniece Baynham. For fifty-seven years they shared a unique marriage of friendship and love.

In July of 1972, Ethel formed a Gospel singing group called "The Band of Angels" Consisting of here nieces, nephews, and cousins, traveling to Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. In 1973, "The Band of Angels" made their first Television appearance on the local news Channel 4, and also made their first record recording, at Juan Shipp Recording Studio. Two songs were recorded entitled, "Live Your Life For The Lord "and "Stop Playing With The Lord".

For many years Ethel drove taxi for the Yellow Cab company, earning a living for herself and her only daughter Marquita, until she retired. Ethel pursued auto body work and painted her own Cadillac. Ethel was a carpenter who built room additions, decks, interior/exterior home remodeling and built three room additions on to her own home.

Ethel Mae was a gospel recording artis. She played the piano and the bass guitar by ear. Ethel wrote a Gospel stage play entitled, "Up Jumps The Devil," a gospel drama that was last performed at the Historical Gem Theater on 18th and Vine District on May 6, 2000. The cast included her husband, daughter, and members of the Community Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, of which her membership is and has been since 1960 with the late Reverend Columbus Short as her Pastor.

There she actively worked as choir member and choir president, bible training union teacher and organizer of musicals. Ethel led and taught by example with enthusiasm at home, work and church, always extending a listening ear and a warm smile.

On KGGN 890 AM Gospel radio, Ethel as a trio with Let'a Davis of A Joyful Noise Community Choir, and her daughter Marquita, hosted a Gospel radio Music Ministry Spotlight on KC, which gave charity to local recording artist to have their music played on the radio.

Mrs. Baynham even saved a neighbor from a burning house. Ethel Mae on a regular basis enjoyed family gatherings, bonding with all whether in or out of town, leading on road trips, smiling, joking, hugging and loving her family, who call her aunt Mae, Ethel Mae, Mae-Mae, Mae West and Pumpkin. Ethel was the same person with friends and neighbors.

Mrs. Ethel Mae Baynham joins the presence of the Lord with her father, Eugene Dean, her mother, Zettie Mae Rucker Farmer, and her first born son John WM Baynham II. Mrs. Ethel Nlae Baynham leaves to cherish her first and only husband, John William Baynham of fifty-seven years, who made her happy. Her first and only daughter Marquita Baynham, her sister: Versie Hoskins of Kansas City, Missouri, her brother, Albert Dean, (Dorothy) of Memphis, Tennessee, her brother: Gregory Lynn Farmer (Ann) of Kansas City, Missouri, and a host of nieces, nephews, family members and friends.

Mrs. Ethel Mae Baynham will be forever Loved and greatly missed.