Biographical Overview of Rev. Wilhemina Denise Baker

Rev. Wilhemina Denise Baker is the daughter of Rev. Paul A. Baker of Hope Mills, NC and the late Mrs. Bobbie Mae Baker.

 She is the oldest of their five children and has two brothers, Timothy P. Baker and Samuel E. Baker, as well as two sisters, Sabrina A. McDonald and D. Christina Baker.  Rev. Baker has one daughter, Tameka, and two granddaughters, Alia and Alina.

Rev. Baker confessed Christ at an early age uniting with Baptist Union Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. (Dr.) John D. Fuller.  She was an avid participant in Sunday School, Church Training Union, and the Junior Mission Department.  Rev. Baker also served as an Usher and later as a member of the Inspirational Choir.

Rev. Baker graduated with honors from South View Senior High School and Summa Cum Laude from Fayetteville State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. She has earned degrees in Clinical Psychology, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and in Law from the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University.  Rev. Baker is a licensed Professional Counselor, a licensed Psychological Associate, and a licensed Attorney and Counselor at Law as well as a Certified Mediator and Mental Health First Aider. 

Rev. Baker’s professional experience has been focused primarily upon family-related issues.  She has served as Men’s group leader for Domestic Violence classes and as Counselor/Educator for the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program at the Family Violence and Rape Crisis Center in Pittsboro, NC.  Rev. Baker has provided Individual, Marital, and Group counseling services and has served as Facilitator for Effective Parenting Classes.  She was also an Adjunct Faculty member in the Psychology Departments of Fayetteville Technical Community College and Fayetteville State University.  Additionally, Rev. Baker worked as a Therapist with the Army’s Family Advocacy Program – a Family Violence and Child Abuse Program at Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, NC.  Rev. Baker is employed as the Team Leader of the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Team for the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services in Raleigh, NC where she oversees the rulemaking, legislative, consumer appeals, and provider appeals procedures within the Division’s purview as well as the rulemaking responsibilities of the NC Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services. 

Rev. Baker was licensed to preach on August 29, 1999 at Baptist Union Missionary Baptist Church in Hope Mills, NC under the leadership of the late Rev. (Dr.) Maurice B. Hayes; she was the first woman licensed to preach in the     history of the Church.  Rev. Baker was ordained by the Union Missionary Baptist Association, Inc. December 31, 2000.  Rev. Baker has worked consistently within the Union Missionary Baptist Association, Inc. and its auxiliaries having served as Secretary of the Pastors & Ministers Conference of the Union Missionary Baptist Association, Inc. (2002-2006), Secretary of the Union of the Union Missionary Baptist Association, Inc. (2006-2010), Secretary of the Union Missionary Baptist Association, Inc. (2010-2014), and as Assistant Secretary of the Union Missionary Baptist Association, Inc. (2014-2018).  Rev. Baker currently serves on the UMBA’s Ministerial Council where she functions as an Instructor in the Ordination Academy.  She has provided workshops on Grief, Parenting Skills Training, Problem Resolution, Women’s Empowerment, and Marital Communication for various Churches.  She currently serves as President of the Golden Warriors Ministry, devoted to ministering to those ages 70 and above, at Baptist Union.  Under her leadership, the Golden Warriors Ministry has added an Annual Game Day, Luncheon, Movie Day, and Banquet to its annual Worship Service.

 Rev. Baker is ever mindful and most thankful for the wondrous blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon her. She is both awed and humbled by God’s choice of her as one of His own. Despite all of her accomplishments, Rev. Baker is most pleased to be known as God’s child.   She finds strength and comfort in the directive given Joshua upon the death of Moses: “Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou    dismayed:  for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9) These words serve as a constant reminder that God is always near.