For Immediate Release
October 12, 2009

A New Orleans Native Displaced by Hurricane Katrina Mrs. Bakewell was the Mother of Los Angeles Sentinel Publisher, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. and Los Angeles Urban League Chief Neighborhood Officer Pamela A. Bakewell

LOS ANGELES – Marybell Bakewell passed away in her sleep October 7, 2009 at Arcadia Methodist Hospital. Mrs. Bakewell, the mother of Los Angeles Sentinel Publisher, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. and Los Angeles Urban League Chief Neighborhood Officer, Pamela A. Bakewell, as well as the grandmother of Los Angeles Sentinel Executive Editor, Danny J. Bakewell, Jr., suffered a massive stroke on Saturday, October 4, 2009 and never recovered. Services will be held on Friday, October 16, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery Risen Christ Chapel (5835 West Slauson Avenue Culver City, California 90230). The repast will take place at Regency West (Leimert Park 3339 West 43rd street Los Angeles, California 90008. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Sabriya’s Castle of Fun Foundation c/o The Brotherhood Crusade, 200 East Slauson Avenue Los Angeles, California 90011.

“She preached ‘Family First’ and anyone who knew her immediately fell in love with her glowing personality,” reflected Danny J. Bakewell Sr. “She was full of life, love, laughter and glamour. She was the family matriarch.”

About Marybell Bakewell

Marybell Bakewell was born April 10, 1925.

A native of New Orleans, she lived there 79 of her 84 years of life, only leaving her beloved city after it was completely devastated by Hurricane Katrina. While living in New Orleans she was a life member of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, who also had a deep rooted family connection to the Sisters of The Holy Family. Mrs. Bakewell was a part of four generations of women who attended St. Mary’s Academy School operated by the Sister of the Holy Family. Her mother, grandmother and daughter were all graduates of this esteemed institution of higher learning dating back to the turn of the century, which was once located in the historic New Orleans French Quarters and later moved to its new location on Chef Menteur Highway. In fact, Mrs. Bakewell remained friends and stayed connected with her St. Mary’s classmates in New Orleans and in Los Angeles until she transitioned.

Mrs. Bakewell was a diehard New Orleans Saints Fan. She loved to play cards, bingo, pokeno, slot machines and was always ready to hit the casino at any time with her main road warrior, Brenda Marsh-Mitchell, even with her walker. In New Orleans, she was a long time member of a club named the “Diors” along with 12 of her long time New Orleanean friends who got together once a month in a member’s home to play pokeno, eat and drink. Friends were very important to Mrs. Bakewell. “Ms. Marybell” as she was also known talked to everyone and knew everyone. She stayed connected with friends from childhood, school, work, church and in neighborhoods through the City of New Orleans to neighborhoods throughout the City of Los Angeles. She left an impact on everyone she touched with her witty ways and graceful sense of “style”. If they weren’t her friend, they became her friend. She stayed connected by phone with her friends even after she moved to Los Angeles to be with her family. One of her grandchildren remembered her by saying “Mamie stayed on that phone”. Talking on the phone made her happy and kept her connected to the people she loved who had been recently displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Marybell Bakewell passed away in her sleep October 7, 2009 at Arcadia Methodist Hospital.

Marybell “Mamie” Bakewell is survived in life by her two children Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. and Pamela Bakewell as well as her daughter-in-law Aline Bakewell, eight grandchildren Danny J. Bakewell, Jr., Brandi Bakewell, Sabriya Bakewell (deceased), Donny Brooks, Jamie Brooks, Brandon Brooks, Fatima Elswify, Amira Elswify and six great grandchildren, Taelor Bakewell, Danny J. Bakewell III, Devyn Bakewell, Bryce Bakewell, Donny Brooks, Jr. and Adrian “AJ” Brooks. She is also survived by her lifelong friend and sister-in-law, Delores Brazile Lewis, wife of her brother, Edward Brazile (deceased), her nephew, Eric Brazile, great nephew, Eric Brazile, Jr. and great niece, Lauren Brazile, as well as a host of cousins, family and friends.

###