Baretta Taylor Duke
December 21, 1955 ~ December 15, 2020
Baretta Taylor Duke was born in Marshall, Texas on December 21, 1955 and quietly left to be with the Lord on December 15, 2020 at the age of 64.
When Baretta was 2 years old, the family moved to San Antonio, Texas. She attended the public schools in the San Antonio Independent School District. Upon completing high school she continued her education at St. Phillip’s College. It was here she began her social and civic life, being a member of the cheerleading team, the Black Student Union, NAACP and the United Negro College Fund Organization.
Baretta accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age, which guided her spiritual journey. She served as founding director of the Anointed for Christ Praise Dance Ministry of Brentwood Baptist Church; president of Renew All Ministries, Inc. In 1999 she married Arthur G. Duke, Jr., their marriage lasted 13 yrs. he will always be a brother in Christ to her family. Baretta served as co-chair of the Deacon’s Wives Ministry from 2009-2010. She was a social butterfly, she would make a friend anywhere she went. Baretta loved being surrounded by her family and friends.
Baretta leaves to cherish her memory her beloved mother, Carrie Taylor; sisters, Velma Riley (Don) and Brenda Cook (Charles); brother, Tyron Taylor (Roslyn) along with 10 nephews and nieces, 18 great nephews and great nieces and 1 great-great nephew. Baretta will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Your family is in our prayers during this difficult time.
We pray the love of God enfolds you during your journey through grief and heals your heart with the precious memories that entwined your lives.
To know you was to love you!! My dear cousin Baretta, so many beautiful memories of our years together. You were the joy of family events and that beautiful smile and laughter will be missed. I love you B and see you when I get there. ‘Boo’
Baretta you will forever be in my heart. Dance before the King! Family events will never be the same but all the wonderful memories we will share forever. I love you B and see you when I get there. Boo-
My deepest condolences. Love you family!
Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers as you send our sister- cousin Baretta on her journey. Wish we could have been there. Love you all!
I will miss you Barretta. Praying for your family and friends. Rest Peacefully in the Loving Arms of Jesus, Always and Forevermore.
Words cannot express the way I feel right now! We had so many great memories together and your family ! Well RIP RETTA!!❤️❤️❤️
Although my heart is very heavy I’m also smiling at the same time. I know without a doubt that my sister in Christ is in heaven! I love you BT and will miss you dearly but God needs you in his army now!! My prayers are with the family💗🙏🏽
“Baretta Duke” brought so many gifts to our life. We will never forget her! In loving memory of our sister.
My friend Baretta, you will be missed. I know you are truly in heaven forever dancing before our Father! Sending condolences to your family and friends 🙏💔
You are still dancing in my heart and I know I will see you again.. Love the Taylor,, Brown, and Williams families from Houston and Brentwood Church
Thank you for sharing your amazing story with your Brentwood Bookclub family. We had a great time! Lifting your family in prayer. GOD is with us!
Words cannot express how we are feeling right now!! Johnnie and I wish to express our Sincere Condolences. Baretta and I were on the Cheerleading Squad at St. Philips College. My husband Johnnie was on the Basketball Team. So many FUN TIMES!! So many HAPPY MEMORIES! Rest Easy my Friend!! Family remember “ Earth has no Sorrow, That Heaven Cannot Heal”. Love ❤️ You Girl!!!!!
Baretta and I first met more than twenty years ago during Brentwood Vacation Bible School. She was energized, and full of love for God! I will always see her smiling eyes and dancing in my heart. Rest my dear! Comfort, Peace and Grace to your family! Joyce and Horace Compton
With all my heart ,we will miss you my friend. We have so many great memories together. You have left your beauty mark on the world. So Rest In Peace my sister. We love you! Mary, Billy, Kris, and Marcus Lightfoot
May the many memories Baretta’s left in the corners of our minds and hearts bring a smile in the midst of every teardrop.
My mind has been flooded with a plethora of memories involving Baretta. The many storms we weathered together. The best memories involved us dancing for the L’RD and the many evenings revolving around food at her dinner table 😋. Baretta aka Barella aka Peterilla. Truly I remember her love for the L’RD, her outspokeness, compassion and fairness. Missed but not forgotten.
I was always Blessed by the passion you exhibited of your love to minister through praise dancing. You will always be in our heart. Till we see one another again. Sisters4Life Doris
My friend you will be missed! Love you and see you next life. “LEAVE THE LIGHT ON”.
Beautiful 🌺 flower, you will truly be missed. After many years, I’m so grateful that the Lord put us in touch again. It’s been a real joy to connect with you over the past several years. May you forever rest in Heavenly peace.
Sending up prayers 🙏🏽 for Baretta’s dear mother and the entire family.
Barretta you were always a wonderful beautiful person. We were happy you were part of our family years ago. So Now We Pray You Are Resting In Peace With Our Heavenly Father. To The Family You All Have Our Condolences And We Will Keep All Of You In Our Prayers. Love Stovall And Parker Family
To family i am sending my condolences she was gone to be be with her heavenly Father.My prayers for the family for the heavenly angels to encamp each and everyone she will be missed.Love from my family to yours.Juanita and family
Pastor Tony Clark Sr. and the Williams Chapel Baptist Church of Marshall Texas send our condolences to the Taylor Family during your time of bereavement in the loss of our dear sister Baretta Taylor Duke. May God comfort and keep you is our prayer.
Condolences to the family.
Lifting the family in prayer for strength, comfort and peace. Dance now before the King, beautiful soul rest in peace. Willie Mae and Ray Phillips
Our deepest condolences and sympathy to the Family, We’re praying that you’ll be surrounded by God’s comforting love and filled with the peace that only He can give. Love Carlton and Lovie Burrell
Caring, sweet, giving, passionate about God and ministry! Even on those rehearsal days you didn’t feel your best you gave God your all! He saw your faithfulness. And now that you’ve exchanged your earthly body for your eternal body I know there is no sitting down to rest for you now 😁. I know you are praising God tirelessly through dance! It was an honor to serve along side of you as co-directors of BW Anointed For Christ Dance Ministry. Dance on my friend. This is what you’ve been practicing down here for! Love you! Bertha Johnson and “Princess” (as you so affectionately called my daughter)
May God keep and comfort your family. Baretta was very special. Memories of her will remain with me. Much Love, Bertha and Ammarah Johnson
The St Philips Cheerleaders
Dance sweet angel!!!!!💕😢 Pam Watson
I will always cherish all the time we spent together on this side of Heaven, between church, our girl time of me doing your hair, and just hanging out in your home. Thank you for always loving me as if I was your own. You will always hold a very special place in my heart! Thank you for every time you taught me about Jesus and cultivating my love for Him and for praise dance. I’m so glad you know how much I love you! Love you always and forever, Lymaryia <3
You had a son and it was me. We had so many happy moments which are now memories. You let it be known who Baretta was and let me tell who was she. A loving God fearing woman who demanded respect and made sure nobody messed with her godson (me)🤗. She loved to dance from Kirk Franklin to Michael Jackson. If there was a beat she was moving her feet and head. You will be missed🌹 Youtube.com/watch?v=CPGInubBsxE (Copy link she danced while I played in the band and my parents and brother enjoying one of many great memories)
My deepest sympathy to the family. I remember years ago when her ministry began. I noticed how she exemplified the love of God through the ministry. I will treasure all you taught me as a young girl, always. BG.
Because of you, Sister Baretta, I know what it looks like to dance like David danced. Thank you for blessing me and so many others with your praise dancing at Brentwood. I’ll think of you every time I hear Tremaine sing “I Never Lost My Praise,” because you didn’t. Rest well, My Beautiful Sister. Praying for the family. You’re home now. (Al & IrisJackson)
In memory of the one and only Barretta Taylor Duke. Certainly your are a one of a kind spirit who left an indelible impression on all whom you met and it was good. We miss you like crazy. Rest well until we meet again.
Sending love to you and your family. We had a lot of fun, especially when you had me and Marcella Boudreaux practicing at your home until we got our routine perfect for our Deacon/Deacon Wives Retreat. You were such a joy to be around. Keep dancing my friend. Connie & Leroy Rogers
I remember when I first you. The Praise Dancers were having an auction, as a fundraiser. I bought tickets for an animal print purse and from that moment on, I was dubbed the purse lady… thanks for your commitment to your craft and for blessing me with your ministry through dance!
My condolence to the family, praying that you find comfort and peace in your memories of Barretta. May she rest in peace.
My heart is so heavy right now to know that you are no longer with us on this side of Heaven. I know however, that you have now gained your wings and are now in the presence of the Lord. A beautiful and talented woman, may you rest in Heaven, and may the Holy Spirit bring comfort to your family during this very difficult time, little sister. Love you forever!
I thought we would see each other again Ret! I was planning to come visit with you once the pandemic was over. God had other plans. I will always hold you dear in my heart and cherish the memories we share. Rest in peace my beautiful, sweet sister-cousin. You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race. ❤ Happy Birthday! I love you! “Deb”
Baretta, I remember when we first met on the campus at St. Philips College. I knew instantly that you were my sister from another mother. We became cheerleaders for the basketball team and sisters who would make up dances and people on the campus wanted to learn. Yet we were scholarly students always volunteering to help the community and members of the black student union. When you moved to Houston, little did I know it was also in God’s plan that I eventually followed. You invited me to attend Brentwood Baptist Church who at that time was under construction. I’ve been a member every since. I tried to convince you to join the choir and you lasted all but 3 rehearsals. Your love was always Praise dancing and you definitely expressed ministry through praise dancing every time you had the opportunity to do so. You became Godmother to y first child Alton Jackson II and the favorite Aunt to Aaron. It was because of you that Aaron joined the youth Praise team. I will never forget how every time you came for dinner or any type of celebration and it involved food, you would always end up on the couch. I guess it is a testament that my cooking was actually good. We laughed together, cried together, celebrated anything together. We were there for one another. We became Grandmothers / Grand Godmothers to 2 beautiful Granddaughters Allison and Ava and loving Mother’s in law to Virginie. It was a pleasure being Nurse/Sister to you. You were a little hard headed and at times would not follow my suggestions that Nurse Doris gave, but eventually you know I was right and you gave in. Your last text to me last week was: “Thank you so much for everything! I received my cards in the mail. You are truly a blessing in my life; and I love you. Sisters 4 Life”. Sis, I Love you. You were indeed a Blessing to me and my family and YES!!! WE ARE SISTERS 4 LIFE Happy Birthday!!! Doris (Dr. Doris Jackson)
My condolences to the family. Baretta , a beautiful person inside and out. Such a God fearing person, she loved the Lord. Thank you for your presence in my life. Janice Jacobs
Johnnie and Jewell Bass Our deepest condolences and sympathy to the Family. You are now “Praise Dancing” with God. Rest In Peace.
I met Baretta in the Adult 4/Mixed Blessings Sunday School class at Brentwood Baptist Church. I will forever remember her profound faith, strength, and positive attitude. She was an inspiration to me and others in my family. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. Carrie L. Haley
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and all who loved Aunt Baretta. She was so beautiful inside and out. May her soul rest in sweet peace. – Cedrick and Emem Washington
You will be missed dancing through the isles at Brentwood. Your smile and faithfulness will be remembered Gwendolyn Howard
My condolences to your family. Baretta suffers no longer. No more pain or tears. Now she gets to dance before her King. RIP
My Deepest and most sincere condolences to family and friends. She will be forever in His Grip. Truly a blessing to the masses and a light to the world. Forever Before His Throne…. Rest Gracefully My Dear Sista. Shalom Bat Zion! With the biggest part of my heart. L. Michelle Denise – The Remnant that Remains!
May her memory be a blessing to all those who pass this way……..Selah!
Baretta was a true vessel at Brentwood Baptist Church. Her faith & love for the Lord was strong as she displayed in her “Praise Dance” for God. Rest in Heavenly Peace❤
I will forever treasure the day I met her. She asked me to help with the young praise dancers, pre school to 2nd grade. Which was as a challenge. Ms. Baretta was always passionate about her work in the church. She loved nurturing children about serving and pleasing God. Pleasing God was her LIFE! I will truly miss this Beautiful Gidly Lady. I can truly say I Loved her and Everything she stood for. Rest now your work is done here on earth.
So glad our paths crossed. Knowing you are no longer on this earth is painful. However, knowing you are with the Lord is joyful. You were loved by many. Keep dancing my friend;
AN Absolutely beautiful PERSON-IN CHRIST; She served as a great example of the SPIRIT.. R.I.P. your works will follow!!! Yes indeed!!!
I am so sad to know my childhood friend passel, and was buried in SA, I didn’t know that, had I known, I would have been there to celebrate her home going. She received her wings, to God be the glory.
Ms. Barreta was my next door neighbor for three years. My son walked and helped take care of Nobel. I am truly grateful for the time we had her in our lives. Patricia and Josh Grady
To Baretta Taylor Duke and extended family. Could not get her off my mind. Kept praying for her and texting and calling her last known number. Today I discovered she passed.
My friend, sister in Christ is at rest. Rest in peace dear friend. I will never forget out time at Fluor Daniel and Weatherford.