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The Rev. Joannie Baskerville passed away Thursday.

She was one of nine children born to the late Frank Sr. and Addie Cameron of LaGrange.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bishop James Baskerville; sister, Cecile Mae Cameron; brothers, Joe Henry and Gary Cameron; and grandson Philip Brian Tobias.

Baskerville lived in New Jersey for more than 40 years, where she worked for 20 years in the nursing profession prior to retirement.

She became the pastor of Rising Grove Missionary Baptist Church, making her the first African-American woman pastor of a Missionary Baptist Church in Troup County. Throughout the last 12 years, she dutifully provided leadership and pastoring to the church, inspired others, and showed the powerful meaning of God’s love through her service.

She is survived by her daughter, Rev. Roxanne Tobias; son-in-law, Philip Tobias; grandson, Jason Tobias; sisters:  Addie (Willie) Berry and Dorothy Clark; brothers:  Walter Cameron, Frank (Peggy) Cameron Jr., and John (Catherine) Cameron. She will be remembered as a shining light for many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, spiritual sons and daughters, her church families at Rising Grove Missionary Baptist Church and New Highway Evangelistic Center of Newark New Jersey, and for the many churches that she fellowshipped with throughout her ministry.