She was born Maude Lillian Beatrice Baker in Springer Oklahoma on March 7, 1888 to A.J. and Emily (Cartwright) Baker. She was the 6th of 7 children. She was known by her middle name 'Lillian', but also went by "Lilly". Sadly, her mother died when she was 3 from an unspecified illness. She moved to Collin County, Texas after her mother died and her father remarried. Her stepmother was a mean and heartless woman who set out to make her stepchildren miserable. However, Lilly did not let this affect her. She married John James Minton on December 5, 1904 at age 16. They had 11 children: Johnnie, Carl, Clyde, Lucile "Lucy", Walter "Heavy", George, Margaret, Mary, Jacqueline "Jackie", Albert "Smitty", and Don. Granny, as she was known by her grandchildren and great grandchildren, was a very sweet and kind woman who always wanted the best for her family. She was ahead of her time in many ways. She always pushed her kids to do their best in school, as education was important to her. Because of her encouragement, all 11 of them graduated. In the late 1920s, the family moved to Snyder, a small town in rural West Texas. In 1929, John died from a stroke while visiting his father and brother. Lilly was absolutely devastated, but tried to stay strong for her children, as she was now a single mother. However, she was able to start making money by ironing clothes for neighbors. She raised the younger kids mostly on her own, with the help of her son Carl, who also helped financially support the family. Lilly moved to Dallas in the 1940s with her daughter Mary after all of her children were grown. She always told all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren that they were her favorite because she wanted everyone to feel special and loved. Granny was also an amazing cook and baker with a plethora of delicious recipes. She somehow managed to fit all of her expansive family into her small home in Dallas every Sunday for lunch and on holidays. Granny was very healthy until she suffered a stroke in 1978, causing her to go mute and paralyzing her. She passed away on March 17, 1979 at the age of 91, devastating her family. Her legacy still lives on, even 4 decades after her death. My mother (Lillian's great granddaughter), grandmother (Lillian's granddaughter), and great grandmother (Lillian's daughter) all remembered her very fondly. They've told me so many stories about her, more than I could fit in this bio. She was a great woman, and will always be remembered by the people who knew her. Although I never met her, I think that she was an amazing woman who always put her family first. Rest In Peace Great Granny

Descendants:

Children

Johnnie Washington Minton (1905-1985)

Carl William Minton (1907-2000)

Clyde Hampton Minton (1909-2000)

Lucille Emma Minton Dupre (1912-2006)

Walter Baker Minton (1914-2007)

George Hughes Minton (1916-1972)

Margaret Lee Minton Durning (1919-2008)

Mary Belle Minton (1921-2008)

Jacqueline Minton Walker (1923-2022)

Albert Newton Minton (1926-2019)

Don Winston Minton (1928-)

Grandchildren

Billie (1934-)

Dion (1937-)

Jimmie Valda Minton Wofford (1938-2019)

Daniel Anthony Dupre (1939-2017)

Joe Garland Minton (1940-2023)

Joyce Glyn Minton Williams (1940-2012)

James Minton Dupre (1941-1941)

Barbara (1942-)

Janet (1942-)

Norma (1942-)

Floyd Dale Minton (1942-)

Donna (1944-)

Judy (1946-)

Danny (1947-)

Sandy (1948-)

Dudley (1949-)

Gary (1949-)

Michael (1950-)

Kathy (1951-)

Larry Weldon Minton (1952-2023)

Robert (1953-)

David (1954-)

Mary Jane Walker (1955-1955)

Charles Mark Walker (1956-2020)

Tim (1958-)

Terry (1962-)

Great Grandchildren

Joe (1955-)

Jerilin (1960-)

Shannon (1961-)

Debbie (1961-)

John (1961-)

Melody (1961-)

Joseph Garland Minton (1961-2021)

Todd (1962-)

Loraine Edna Minton Halford (1962-2019)

Jim (1962-)

Jacki (1963-)

Michael (1964-)

Donna (1965-)

Danny (1965-)

Theresa (1966-)

Terry (1967-)

Adam (1967-)

Kelly (1967-)

Stephen (1968-)

Jayson (1968-)

Eric (1969-)

Chris (1969-)

Stacy (1970-)

Melissa (1971-)

Tasha (1971-)

Chad McBrayer (1972-1973)

Angela (1972-)

Scottie Minton (1973-2014)

Rueben (1974-)

Christopher Minton (1974-2012)

Benjamin (1974-)

Chris (1975-)

Heather (1975-)

Kevin (1975-)

Heran (1976-)

Sabrina (1976-)

Zachary (1977-)

John (1979-)

Eric (1979-)

Nicholas (1979-)

Amanda (1980-)

Brandon (1981-)

Steven (1981-)

Katy (1983-)

Ashley (1984-)

Amanda (1987-)

Sarah (1988-)

Leigha (1989-)

Krista (1992-)