Frances "Sweetie" Casel-Baker

Frances Evelyn Casel-Baker (aka - Ms. Frankie, aka – Sweetie), an only child, was born December 24, 1941, to Oscar and Mattie Casel in Tyler, Texas, but grew up in Saginaw, Michigan.

She is preceded in death by husbands Ronald Earthman and Thelmer Baker, grandsons Tony Tucker, Tony Whitley-Casel, and Roman Casel Jr, as well as great grandson Germey Jamont Hollenquest.

Frankie was a licensed cosmetologist for over 5 decades (never retiring) and owned her own shop “Frankie’s Place.” She and her clients loved to hold court at the beauty box and solve the world’s problems without leaving the shop. She absolutely loved doing hair, and each of her clients was like family. Frankie had a sincere passion for Community Outreach and volunteer work which is evident in the many accomplishments that she chaired and co-chaired from everything involving the Oak Hill/Martindale/Brightwood neighborhood, NCNW, reading books to small children, to helping with ISTEP testing, just to name a few. She loved helping people so much that during the Covid Pandemic she delivered food to anyone in need. She was instrumental in the development of the Genesis HealthNet Medical Clinic “The Miracle on 34th Street”. She was committed to ensuring the voting rights of all people and worked the polls for many years. In addition, she played an integral role in the establishment of the New Brightwood Marion County Public Library. And let’s not forget the tireless effort she put forth in the future of the new Frederick Douglass Recreation Center which just received over $20million. YES…..She was “STRAIGHT OUT OF DOUGLASS PARK”

Our mother loved to laugh, party, play cards “BID WHIST & DAD” and talk smack with the best of them. Oh how she loved to win. Sweetie loved her dogs “her 4 legged children” and loved for people to eat her food. We will always remember the Bar-B-Qs, dinners, celebrations, and gatherings held at 2619 Sangster Ave. Sweetie loved her neighborhood and as she would always say “I love my little house”. She had so much pride & joy in her yard, and loved to sit in the window and take in the beautiful view. If you grew up in the neighborhood and walked by the house while she was out working in the yard – You were definitely recruited. LOL. You simply could not say NO to my mama.

Did I say she didn’t just love her family but loved everyone and never met a stranger? It’s true. Frankie was a real Gem, true to self, unapologetically speaking her truth, kind, loving, and giving unselfishly of herself in service to others. Mama you really are Sweetie - the nickname fits!!

She leaves behind a loving and grieving family; two daughters Shawn Casel-Middlebrook, Rhonda Casel and one son Roman Casel Sr (Mychelle); Grandchildren; George Casel, Frankie Alexis Casel, Ashley Earthman, Raven Casel-Thurman (Lewis), EJ Middlebrook, Jamont Casel, Jasmine Middlebrook, & Taylor Middlebrook; Great grandchildren; Ezariyiah Omarion Seacrest, Tyler Marie Whitley, Tony Whitley Jr, Armani Whitley, Kylee Mychelle Casel, Omari Maurice Middlebrook, Peyton Rene Green & Roman Jamont Casel (Lil-Lil), as well as a huge host of family, friends and activist/volunteer foot soldiers.