Ms. Michael D. Baskett

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

A TIME TO BE BORN:

Michael Doreen Baskett was born on April 7, 1949 in Cincinnati, Ohio to the union of Corrinne Dula Baskett and Herman Baskett.

A TIME FOR EDUCATION:

Michael received her early education at Saint Francis deSales School and Woodward Senior High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.

She began her undergraduate journey at Knoxville College, Knoxville, Tennessee. She later returned to Cincinnati, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology minoring in Political Science and Public Affairs from Xavier University. She also earned a Master of Arts in Public Affairs from the University of Cincinnati.

A TIME TO SERVE GOD:

Michael received Christ at an early age and was a devoted member of many parishes in various cities where she resided. Upon her return to Cincinnati from Atlanta, Georgia, Michael attended Saint Francis deSales Catholic Church, where she served as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister, she was also the president of the Social Committee, as well as a member of various other committees and groups.

She rendered her gifts of ministerial service to her beloved Church of the Resurrection for the latter 12+ years of her life. There she served as an extraordinary Eucharistic Minister and Lector.. Those who knew her well would speak of her love for bringing the Word of God to life through her infectious enthusiasm and lively expressions as an act of worship and adoration for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Additional capacities in which she shared her gifts and talents included serving with the Church of the Resurrection’s Fund Development Committee; Pastoral Council, MLK Keep the Dream Alive Committee and other workgroups.

A TIME TO SERVE MANKIND:

Michael was a community leader.

Michael was a proud and committed member of Alpha Kappa Sorority, Incorporated. She was initiated as a member of Gamma Omega Graduate Chapter in June, 1982 in St. Louis Missouri.

As Michael traveled to and lived in many other cities, she affiliated with and served as a committed member of several other chapters, including those in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chicago, Illinois, and Atlanta, Georgia.

Michael united with Sigma Omega Chapter in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2012. During her years of service, Michael worked tirelessly in dedication to the community she loved. The joy experienced while serving in the Office of Ivy Leaf Reporter, was linked to her love for community engagement.

She demonstrated and promoted excellence in service “to all mankind” as a reflection of the sororities purpose. Other services associated with her beloved AKA included her work on the Letteria Dalton Foundation, fundraising activities, and other projects.

Her community work extended to various other boards and committees. Some of her roles included serving as an officer on the president’s trustee board for Cincinnati State Technical and Community College for a number of years. She also served in various capacities for the Cincinnati Urban League Guild of Southwest Ohio.

As a career woman, Michael served in several leadership capacities including Federal Health Administrator for the government. In her early years, she was quite the activist and a champion of political figures she admired like her dear friend, the Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell, Mayor Theodore “Ted” Berry and Mayor Marian Spencer.

A TIME TO LIVE, TO LAUGH, AND TO LOVE:

Michael was an avid lover of the arts. She was particularly fond of the symphony and the ballet. She LOVED tennis! She attended many tournaments and even had the pleasure of meeting the Williams sisters. A particular passion of hers was listening to great old skool R&B music, gospel and smooth jazz.. live or recorded. (She also loved to sing, but we won’t talk about that!) Michael was also a movie buff and insisted on attending first-run movies as they came out.

Michael immensely enjoyed traveling and she did so extensively, both in the United States and abroad. Two of her favorite destinations were the Caribbean Isles and Greece… the scenery, the food, and the culture she experienced gave her countless fond memories.

One of her greatest joys was creating smiles and extending love by giving many personal gifts to those she loved… a beautiful bouquet of roses, dinner at the Metropolitan Club, a unique piece of art or jewelry, a special invitation to her annual Christmas party, or perhaps it was a homemade hummingbird cake or the famous, “Michael Baskett’s apple pie” made with lots of love.

Other loves included dancing, shopping and caring for animals (hers and a million others). “Maggie” the German Shepherd, Callie,” the Schitzu; the exotic birds, and countless furry friends with whom shared her love as a volunteer at the Cincinnati Zoo. Most recently, she became a mom of the neighborhood Farrell cats, raccoons, squirrels, and birds galore.

A TIME TO DIE:

On October 9, 2026, God called His faithful servant Home. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman Baskett and Corrine Dula Baskett; as well as her cherished friend and companion, Richard Hutchins.

A TIME TO MOURN:

Michael D. Baskett leaves to cherish her memory her siblings, Renata Joiner, Cortne’ Baskett and Cathy Boston; nieces, Lesley Crutchfield, Lonnie Chanel and Zaykia McNeal; nephews, Edward (Erin) Joiner, Jr. and Paul (Carmen) Joiner, and Dion Bradshaw. She will also be missed by a host of great- nieces, nephews, cousins and her special “sister-girl” friends, Mary Gladden, Mildred Kennedy, Elaine Stubblefield, Damita Jo Ramsey, Sandra Parks and Ingrid Burton. Michael will also be dearly missed by the countless people she touched with her beauty and grace throughout her journey.