Obituary

Minnie Luke, our mom was a Mother to three: Janet, Alton and Natasha. Many of you know her as sister, aunt, grandma, cousin, friend and minister, but whatever the relationship, we all know her as the woman who played many roles.

Minnie was a child of God. She gave her life to Christ at a very early age and was baptized at New Hill CME Church in Keithville, Louisiana. Minnie lived in Louisiana with her parents and 4 siblings and enjoyed growing up on a farm. When she became a young adult, she moved to California. When in California she married and divorced but raised her two children and one grandniece and loved them with all her heart and soul. She raised each child in the church environment and gave them the foundation to be good Christians.

Minnie was a musician. Minnie learned to play the piano at age 12 and would sing with her little brother Nolan on the front porch at their house. Her sister said that folks would walk by and stop to hear them sing. The first song she ever sang was "The Little Wooden Church on the Hill". She sang at any chance offered to her and shared her love of music with many of us in this church today. At age 70, Minnie recorded a CD called "Gospel According to Luke" which she was extremely proud of. Her son has inherited her gift of song and continues to craft his art.

Minnie was a minister. Minnie became an ordained minister in 1974 and preached across the city and county. She loved to spread the Gods word and share the wonders of His love. You rarely saw Minnie without a Bible in her hand or purse and she was always ready to pray with you or for you day or night. Minnie was one of the few women at that time who were ordained ministers and she set a trail for other women to have an opportunity to share Gods word.

Minnie was a seamstress by trade but also made it fun. Minnie learned to sew at a young age and took courses at Long Beach City College to become a skilled seamstress. She worked as a seamstress at Acme Mattress Factory for 18 years before the family business closed its doors. Minnie would design and sew her daughter's church dresses when she was young and also make dresses and outfits for other church members and women in the community. Minnie became an expert at her trade and made all the mattresses in her house, reupholstered her living room sofa/love seat as well as her daughters first car. She loved to sew and design.

Minnie was an avid gardener. Plants can be confusing. Fertilizer that's good for one is bad for another. One wants lots of light, another wants only a little light. And who knew there were so many different kinds of dirt? Some people seem to just be naturals at growing things.  Minnie loved plants and plants loved Minnie. She loved to garden and kept a vegetable garden most of her adult life and always kept the house full of flourishing beautiful green plants.

Minnie had a heart of gold and touched each of our lives in different ways in the many roles she held in her life. Each of us can remember a fond memory we had of her and cherish it.

"Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see. "(John Newton)

We Love You Minister Luke