Service

Saturday, September 20, 2025

Family Visitation: 12:00 Noon

Funeral Service: 2:00 P.M.

Held at

Shelbyville Mills Church

900 Union Street

Shelbyville, Tennessee

Michael Henry Baker was born on July 6, 1960, to the late Kathryn L. Baker and Henry S. Baker in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the baby of five children and spent his early years in California but returned to Langley Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio for the remainder of his childhood. In his youth, he traveled with his father in a meat delivery truck and one of his fondest memories was cooking a piece of meat on the truck’s engine throughout the day to enjoy at the end of the day. He enjoyed a life of “entrepreneurship” with his brother Brian around the neighborhoods. He shared many stories of how they found creative ways to make money. And from what he shared, they were quite successful!

He graduated from John F Kennedy High School in Cleveland in 1978 and enlisted in the United States Army where he was honorably discharged. He later moved to Shelbyville, Tennessee and built a life of service and care, not only for his family, but also for those in his community. It was there that he met his daughter, Dorissa “Kedia” at 18 months old, upon meeting her mother Sherry Simpson (Allen); three years later, they would welcome his daughter, Tenesha MaKel “Kel”, his namesake.

Michael worked at various companies in his life, namely at Cloverbottom, Chatham Dogfood Plant, Empire, and National Pen, where he met and bonded with several close friends that became like brothers. In his home life, he loved playing football in the field behind the old Central High / Harris Middle School; was known for his famous homemade chili and BBQ sauce, and for hosting huge family cookouts. He loved music (played it loudly), racing, football (the Cleveland Browns, Ohio State, and later the Tennessee Titans), playing backgammon, and cards.

He became a Police Officer with the Shelbyville Police Department in August of 1987 and had a long, successful career serving his community, holding several certifications and giving 30 years of service as a Lieutenant. He retired in January of 2018.

Mike peacefully transitioned while in hospice care on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, following an extended illness. Michael is proceeded in death by his parents, along with his two brothers, Eston Keith Johnson and Brian Juanti Baker and two nephews, Clark Anthony “TJ” Robinson Jr and Steven Lamar Baker.

Michael leaves behind his two beloved daughters, Tenesha Simpson (Paul LovVorn) and Dorissa (Calvin) Davis, and two grandchildren, Jackson LovVorn and Calvin Davis IV, all of Murfreesboro, TN. Two sisters, Karen L. Kenney VanFleet of Shelbyville, TN and Paulette (Dietrich) Winters of Murfreesboro, TN; as well as a devoted cousin who was more like a sister, Jill “Jilly Evelyn” Kenney (Thomas) McCullough of Shelbyville, TN and a loving sister-in-law Erika Baker of Germany. Nieces Kelli Weahunt, Lucillia “LuLu” (Shawn) Harrell, both of Shelbyville, TN; Christiana Graham of Fairbanks, AK; Linda “My Linda” (Jodie) Houston of Liberty, TN, Michelle Vinson of Hopkinsville, KY, and Mandy (Keith) Hall of New York City, NY. And a host of loving great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and close friends.